Journalist

What does a Journalist do?

Journalists research, write and produce news, features and investigations for audiences. Day‑to‑day work mixes source‑building, interviewing, fact‑checking, writing under deadlines; broadcast presenting (TV/ radio), digital production (podcasts, social video), and increasingly data journalism.

• Research, write and produce news, features and investigations
• Specialise in news reporting, broadcast, political, business/finance, sport, or investigative journalism
• Work across print, online, broadcast and emerging digital/podcast formats
• Build for BBC, Reuters, The Times, The Guardian, FT, Sky News and Bloomberg

UK Journalist pay starts modest and scales sharply with seniority. Junior reporters at regional/local UK newsrooms start at £22,000–£28,000. National newspaper and broadcaster journalists at the BBC, Reuters, Bloomberg and the FT start at £30,000–£40,000. Senior correspondents and editors at national titles earn £60,000–£100,000+. The very top of UK journalism (newspaper editors, broadcast presenters) earns £200,000–£500,000+.

Years 5–10:
Senior Correspondent/Section Editor.

London dominates UK journalism — over 80% of national newspaper and broadcaster journalism jobs are London‑based. Regional and local newsrooms pay 20–30% below London but with significantly lower living costs. Trade press and financial journalism pay 20–30% above general national newsroom rates.

• Sharp curiosity and persistence.
• Sceptical mindset and fact‑checking discipline.
• Empathic interviewing.
• Clear, accessible writing.
• Ethical decision‑making (UK editors' code, broadcasters' codes).
• Resilience under deadline pressure and public criticism.

• BBC, Reuters, Financial Times, Bloomberg, Sky News, ITV News, The Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph, Daily Mail, i, Independent, Mirror, Express, regional papers.
• Trade press and specialist publications – The Lancet, New Scientist, Architectural Review, Construction News, Drapers, Money Week.

Years 0–2:
Trainee / Junior Reporter – complete the NCTJ Diploma alongside trainee newsroom work.

Years 2–5:
Reporter / Producer – cover a beat or specialise into broadcast production.

Years 5–10:
Senior Correspondent / Section Editor – lead investigations and senior reporting.

Years 10+:
Editor / Bureau Chief / Anchor – top‑tier leadership roles.