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Who is a Reporter?
The corruption in reporting starts very early. It's like the police reporting on the police ~ Julian Assange
A reporter is a professional who gathers and presents the news to the public and spreads awareness about what goes on around the world. A career as a reporter is one of the most demanding yet rewarding professions in the modern world.
A news reporter may conduct interviews and reach out to people's locations to capture or absorb their reactions to the news story to be published in a newspaper or broadcast on television. A reporter always investigates the authenticity and accuracy of a news headline before the general public. A reporter may specialise in different fields and roles.
Quick Facts for Reporter
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Industry
Media
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Average Salary in India
₹30850
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Suitable for
Male, Female, Others
A career as a reporter is suitable for everyone regardless of gender. A reporter career is based on fieldwork. He or she requires to travel from one place to another to collect information and news bytes from sources such as relatives, police officials and related people to present the news story.
Table of Contents for Reporter
What is the role of Reporter?
The roles and responsibilities of a reporter involve talking to various sources, taking pictures and videos of the evidence, happenings, and events, and writing a copy describing the story to send them to headquarters for further editing and broadcasting on television or publishing in a newspaper or magazine.
A news reporter has to research various topics to pitch ideas for a news story.
He or she has to read from various sources and stay aware of what is happening in the city that carries news value.
A reporter is responsible for investigating a news story to provide accurate information to the public.
A reporter has to collect information from various sources.
A news reporter must be able to clearly and concisely frame the sentences to convey the information accurately to the news editor or news producer.
A news reporter is responsible for capturing the right visuals that build up the storyline and become proof of evidence to be published or broadcast to viewers.
A news reporter has to update the desk about any developments in the story.
Types of a Reporter
There are numerous types of a reporter or reporter career options depending on the beats they are assigned. We have provided below a description of several types of news reporters who work on the story of their respective fields.
Entertainment Reporter: An entertainment reporter reports on the ongoing happenings in the entertainment industry. The film industry, the tv industry, and the music industry are considered under entertainment reporting. An entertainment reporter reports on ongoing events such as films, parties, and gossip about celebrities. He or she covers soft news.
Crime Reporter: A crime reporter is proficient in covering crime stories. It includes crimes such as robbery, murder, violence, corruption, blackmailing and instigating to do criminal acts. A crime reporter usually visits the police station to pitch top crime stories. He or she takes bytes of police officials, eyewitnesses, victim, convict and their relatives.
Business Reporter: A business reporter covers stories on the various aspects of the business and financial market. He or she has knowledge of trading and the stock market. He or she reports on NIFTY and SENSEX. A business reporter reports on the inflation and deflation of real estate, gold, petroleum, crude oil, steel and other materials.
What is the workplace/work environment of Reporter like?
On the front, a news reporter is required to work on a story and gather information from various sources. However, there is a lot that happens before that. A news reporter has to get the story approved by the desk editor or the head reporter, contact various sources, ensure that the facts are given or correct, and talk to the stakeholders of a news story.
In a career as a news reporter, individuals who work for broadcasting platforms based on video format are provided with video journalists to capture the shots of the locations, walkthrough, one-to-one, and vox-pop taken by the reporter. Those news reporters who work with bigger news organisations are also provided with transportation including the driver to reach various locations.
Does Reporter require travelling?
Likely
A reporter is required to travel on a frequent basis. He or she is required to travel to cover news stories. A career as a reporter demands to be reached on the spot as early as possible to break the news story first. When it comes to reporting for television a reporter often requires live reporting from the spot.
Employment Shifts
Full Time
Individuals who opt for a career as a news reporter may often be called at any hour of the day be it midnight or early morning when important news breaks. He or she is required to work on rotational shifts. The rest is dependent on the functioning of the news organisation.
Employment Nature
Contractual, Permanent
In a career as a news reporter, individuals may work with a news organisation on both contractual as well as a permanent basis. Those who work on a permanent basis are known as reporters while those who work on a contractual basis are known as stringers.
Work Place
On-Field, Office
Individuals who opt for a career as a news reporter spend his or her most hours in the field collecting information from various news sources. He or she is required to visit the office to submit the story and visuals for further editing to be published or broadcast.
Presence in Geographical Area
Semi-urban, Urban
A reporter usually has a fixed working schedule. He or she does not get off on festivals, national holidays or even on weekends as any other professional. A news reporter has one or two off in the working week schedule of seven days.
Time Pressure
Likely
In a career as a news reporter, individuals work under frequent time pressure. Reporters who work for broadcasting media are required to cover stories as early as possible and update the desk on any development in the news story. Reporters stay under pressure to break the news story first on their channels.
Overtime Details
A reporter usually requires to work overtime. Due to frequent travel to cover stories and reaching the office back and reporting the desk, his or her work hours often get stretched. A reporter also has to wait for hours for eminent personalities to take their bytes on controversial issues. He or she has to continuously research new story ideas.
Weekly Hours of Work
Min 35 Hours
A reporter usually has a fixed working schedule. He or she does not get off on festivals, national holidays or even on weekends as any other profession. Individuals who opt for a career as a reporter have one or two off in the working week schedule of seven days.
How to become a Reporter?
Steps to become a Reporter
If you are someone who wants to be the voice of your nation and looking for how to become a Reporter in India then we have mentioned below how to become a Reporter in India or how to become news reporter after 12th.
What are the skills and qualities required to become a/an Reporter?
When it comes to how to become a reporter in India, the first thing that they should know about is the skills required to opt for a reporter career. Some of the essential skills we have mentioned are below. Here, in this section, we have discussed how to become a news reporter in India.
Communication Skills: Communication skills are most crucial for a reporter’s role. He or she has to communicate with numerous people on a daily basis. In a career as a reporter, individuals have to take bytes from strangers and make them comfortable speaking in front of the camera and mic.
Persuasive Skills: A reporter must be persuasive in nature. Everything he or she says or reports must be authentic and people easily get persuaded by his or her facts and information. Individuals who opt for a career as a reporter must look confident on-screen while going live or taking a walk-through and interacting with people.
News Sense: A news sense is crucial for a career as a reporter. Only the stories that carry news value can be reported. Any recent event or upcoming event that carries the interest of a bigger audience can be considered news. If a dog bites a human then it is not news but if a human bites a dog then it becomes news.
Which certifications and internships can be helpful in becoming Reporter?
Certification courses and internships help the candidates gain extra knowledge and practical experience about the field. This helps them enjoy the benefit of having an edge over other potential candidates in the field. Here is a list of some certified courses that the candidates can pursue:
Internship Availability
After successful completion of a bachelor’s degree programme or during the semester break of the academic programme, individuals can opt for internships. Apply early for the internship as it is crucial to get timely opportunities in a prominent news agency or news organisation. Candidates who have shown potential and a knack for reporting are hired on a permanent basis.
Also read: Career as news anchor
Reporter Jobs and Salaries
Junior Reporter
- Average Salary 20000
Job Description
The Junior Reporter job description includes identifying newsworthy events and attending and reporting on the events. A Junior Reporter delivers the scripted, live spontaneous and already recorded reports.
Salary Description
An entry-level Junior Reporter salary in India ranges between Rs 0.5 Lakhs to Rs 3.0 Lakhs with an average annual salary of Rs 2.5 Lakhs per annum. Junior Reporter salary in India may vary depending on various job factors like the skills and experience of the candidates, job location, and others.
Salary Source: AmbitionBox
Senior Reporter
- Average Salary 41700
Job Description
Senior Reporter job description includes researching the stories and developing relationships with contacts and experts who provide them with leads. A Senior Reporter interviews the authorities, eyewitnesses and people related to and interested in news stories.
Salary Description
The estimated Senior Reporter salary in India ranges from Rs 2.0 Lakhs to Rs 16.7 Lakhs with an average annual salary of Rs 5.0 Lakhs per annum. Senior Reporter salary in India may vary depending on various job factors like skills, experience, size of the organisation, and the location of the organisation.
Salary Source: AmbitionBox
What is the job outlook for Reporter?
Aspiring individuals are required to start acquiring at the initial level taking up the role of intern and writing as a freelancer for local newspapers, television, and radio stations and the salary of a journalist in India is also good. It is one of the most competent careers. The website and YouTube channel-based news organisations provide more opportunities to individuals.
Frequently Asked Questions for Reporter
Que. What is the average fee of Bachelor of Journalism course?
Ans.The average fee of a Bachelor of Journalism course ranges from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 500,000.
Que. What are the top journalism colleges in Delhi?
Ans.We have provided below a list of top journalism colleges in Delhi. Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, DelhiUniversity School of Mass Communication, New Delhi Jagannath International Management School, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi international Institute of Mass Media, New DelhiTrinity Institute of Professional Studies, New DelhiJamia Millia Islamia, New DelhiJagannath Institute of Management Sciences, RohiniExpress Institute of Media Studies, New DelhiLady Shri Ram College for Women, New Delhi, Apeejay Institute of Design, DelhiBharati College, New Delhi.
Que. What is the average salary of a reporter in India?
Ans.The salary of a reporter in India varies depending on his or her experience and size of the news organisation he or she is working with. The average salary of reporter in India is Rs. 20,000.
Que. What are the other job roles one can opt for after completing a bachelor’s degree in journalism?
Ans.Besides opting for a career as a reporter, one may find numerous other career opportunities such as copywriter, content writer, content creator, video editor, graphic designer, and PR executive.
Que. What are the other undergraduate courses that one can opt to become a journalist?
Ans.There are not any specific degree requirements in a particular specialisation to become a journalist. Candidates after completing graduation in any relevant specialisation whether it is journalism, mass communication, history, economics or any other field can opt for an internship in news organisations.
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Did you know?
Fact 1
The word fake news was popularised by former US President Donald Trump.
Fact 2
Hickey’s Bengal Gazette is the first published newspaper in India.
Fact 3
The Bombay Samachar presently known as Mumbai Samachar is the oldest consistently published newspaper in India.
Fact 4
Udant Martand was the first Hindi newspaper published in India.
Fact 5
Mahatma Gandhi had published four major newspapers Indian Opinion, Young India, Navjivan and Harijan.
