Reporter Resume: Examples and Tips
Reporters work for newspapers, television, radio, magazines and online news sites, publishing articles and delivering updates and analysis on current events. Duties and responsibilities include research, gathering information, and creating news pieces in alignment with the publication’s standards. For this position you should have a strong network of connections, demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication, and display teamwork, creativity, and time management.
Create a resume that tells “the full story” about your reporter abilities using our resume examples and tips:
Table of Contents
Featured Resume Example: Reporter
Name: Elena Arroyo
Address: City, State, Zip Code
Phone: 000-000-0000
E-Mail: email@email.com
Professional Summary
Talented reporter adept at investigating issues, writing stories and presenting facts in attention-grabbing format. Highly effective at working a clear narrative and committed to providing accurate, truthful journalism. Proven ability to thrive in deadline-driven environments.
Skills
- Article writing
- Interviewing
- Investigations
- Fact-checking
- Story development
- Communication
- Time management
- Organization
Work History
Reporter
07/2018 – Current
Company Name, City, State
- Write and submit 300+ accurate, engaging and fact-checked stories each year.
- Conduct live and tape interviews to obtain up-to-date news information.
- Respond to emergencies and breaking news stories with strong sense of urgency, at any hour.
Report Writer
09/2016 – 06/2018
Company Name, City, State
- Interviewed personnel and read journals to research topics before writing.
- Wrote up to 1,500 word assignments according to instructions.
- Utilized exceptional writing, editing and proofreading skills to produce engaging and error-free content
Journalist Intern
06/2015 – 09/2015
Company Name, City, State
- Produced two articles each week by conducting research and interviews.
- Followed through on beat sources, contacts and leads to gather information for stories.
- Disseminated news content through social media for better engagement with audiences and faster reporting.
Education
Bachelor of Arts: Journalism
05/2016, City, State
Top 4 Characteristics of a Best-in-Class Reporter Resume
- Summary Provide a quick, crisp overview of your top skills and work experience, addressing the top requirements of the potential job. For example, if the job calls for heavy work in news research and interviews, you could write: “Creative, passionate reporter adept in news research, interviewing guests, and maintaining professional relationships with sources.”
- Skills Break this section into categories: Professional skills such as proficiency with Microsoft Office, knowledge of style guides and news standards, and knowledge of content management systems, and soft skills such as time management, problem-solving, critical thinking, attention to detail, and decision-making.
- Work History For each previous job, list the job title, location of the job, dates of employment, and three to five bullet points outlining your most notable responsibilities and achievements. For example: “Published five articles per week in magazines and newspapers, earning recognition as city’s best columnist in local newspaper.”
- Education Feature your top academic accreditation (e.g., bachelor’s degree in mass communication or journalism), as well as any training, certifications, and hands-on experience in related areas, such as certification in Microsoft Office or Adobe InDesign, or NCRA training as a Registered Professional Reporter.
See Why My Perfect Resume is a 5-Star Resume Builder
Find the Right Template for Your Resume
Make a strong visual statement with your resume by using one of these professional templates.
Bold
This layout presents a clean, simple look, with two-tone colors for the candidate’s name at the top for an extra bit of style. The document is easily navigable, thanks to the arrangement of section headings on the left.
Pacific
This contemporary template uses strong colors to highlight the job seeker’s name and contact information, while the content is easily customizable, depending on if you want to emphasize work history or skills.
Remarkable
This design instantly grabs the recruiter’s attention thanks to its “boxed-out” section headings, and the prominent, elegant font for the header.
For more free templates you can use, visit our resume templates section.
Do’s and Don’ts for Your Resume
- DO proofread your resume before submitting it. Reporters are expected to stick to high standards of accuracy, so make sure your resume follows suit. Review your document carefully for grammatical errors and typos, and make sure the information you’ve provided is correct and matches the requirements of the particular job. You can also use our Resume Builder to review your document.
- DO quantify your work experience. Whenever possible, add metrics and numbers to your achievements rather than just making general statements about your accomplishments. Every bit of detail you can supply will give employers a better idea of what you’re capable of. For example: “Produced average of five news stories a week, covering local politics for city of 100,000 residents,” or “Recognized for spearheading weekly features that increased channel audience by 20%.”
- DO include the right keywords. Employers (and the software they use to scan resumes) will be searching for the right keywords in your resume. To get in the right keywords, scan the job description carefully, taking note of top-line duties and skills such as “creating high-impact digital projects by collaborating with other newsroom teams,” or “Knowledge of multimedia storytelling, social media engagement and other strategies to broaden readership.” Match up these keywords with your own skills and experience, and update your resume appropriately. For example, you could mention “multimedia storytelling” as a skill, or list a previous work experience where you collaborated with other reporters on digital news projects. Our article How to Use Keywords Effectively provides additional tips.
- DON’T forget to emphasize soft skills. While nuts-and-bolts knowledge of reporting practices and software is important, your soft skills — the intangible qualities and personal traits that show employers how you approach work — are equally valuable. Be sure to include major soft skills such as attention to detail, excellent communication, and the ability to handle stressful situations in your resume, both in your skills section and in your work history (e.g., “Wrote and delivered high-quality news stories in fast-pcade, deadline-driven environment”). Our Top Resume Skills page contains more soft skill examples and advice.
- DON’T let your resume run too long. The general rule is to stick to a resume that’s two pages long at most. Avoid long-winded sentences, and use short, punchy bullet points and phrases. Limit your work history to the last 10 years, and highlight only your best, most relevant abilities and achievements.
- DON’T shy away from action verbs. When you describe your work accomplishments, it’s always best to stay away from passive phrases like “Was tasked with” or “Responsible for.” Instead, feature action verbs such as improved, managed, monitored, implemented, introduced and delivered. For example, instead of writing “Responsible for compiling compelling news stories for TV broadcast,” write “Delivered compelling news stories for TV broadcast.”
Reporter Resume FAQs
- 1. What skills should be included in a reporter’s resume?
- 2. How should I format my reporter’s resume?
- 3. How do I craft my resume for the next step in my career?
- 4. What are some examples of training and certifications you can feature for this role?
- 5. Why is it important to customize my resume?
1. What skills should be included in a reporter’s resume?
| Professional skills: | Soft skills: |
| Knowledge of content management systems (CMS) | Ability to meet deadlines |
| Video editing | Time management |
| PhotoShop | Critical thinking |
| Creating multimedia | Magnetic personality |
| Soundslides | Good interpersonal skills |
| Podcasting | Verbal and written communication |
| Knowledge of social media platforms | Excellent observation and judgment |
| Social networking | Networking skills |
| Investigative journalism | Strong work ethic |
| Data analysis | Energy and passion |
| Data visualization | Problem-solving |
| Research skills | Adaptability |
| Copyediting | Clear speech |
| Photojournalism | Ability to handle stress and criticism |
| Creative approach | |
| Self-motivated | |
| Friendly behavior | |
| Trustworthy | |
| Reliable | |
| Leadership |
| Professional skills: |
| Knowledge of content management systems (CMS) |
| Video editing |
| PhotoShop |
| Creating multimedia |
| Soundslides |
| Podcasting |
| Knowledge of social media platforms |
| Social networking |
| Investigative journalism |
| Data analysis |
| Data visualization |
| Research skills |
| Copyediting |
| Photojournalism |
| Soft skills: |
| Ability to meet deadlines |
| Time management |
| Critical thinking |
| Magnetic personality |
| Good interpersonal skills |
| Verbal and written communication |
| Excellent observation and judgment |
| Networking skills |
| Strong work ethic |
| Energy and passion |
| Problem-solving |
| Adaptability |
| Clear speech |
| Ability to handle stress and criticism |
| Creative approach |
| Self-motivated |
| Friendly behavior |
| Trustworthy |
| Reliable |
| Leadership |
2. How should I format my reporter’s resume?
If you have a few years of reporting experience, feature both your skills and work achievements using a combination format, which features a balance of both. If you’re a seasoned pro in the industry, use a chronological format that emphasizes your work history and career progression. If you’re new to professional journalism, use a functional format that highlights reporter-related training and skills, as well as any extracurricular activities or projects (e.g., a personal news blog, or an internship at a newspaper).
3. How do I craft my resume for the next step in my career?
To move up to a more senior position, feature the following in your resume:
- Gain an advanced degree or training in journalism and mass communication
- Show examples where you’ve taken the lead on crucial projects.
- Give examples of how you’ve put your marketing and social media skills to good use in distributing your content.
- List any recognitions or awards you’ve received for your work.
4. What are some examples of training and certifications you can feature for this role?
- Certificate in Journalism
- Documentary Filmmaking Certificate (DFC)
- Certificate in Digital Transformation
- Social Media Academic Credit Certificate of Achievement (SCACCA)
- Certificate in Organizational Leadership and Communication (OLC)
- Online Social Media Marketing Course
- Certificate Program in Graphics and Multimedia
- Certificate in Public Relations
- Certificate in Digital Content Management (DCM)
- Certificate in Interactive Media Management (IIM)
- Certificate in Film, Television and Entertainment
- Certificate in Media Practice
5. Why is it important to customize my resume?
Just as you wouldn’t write the same article for every topic, you shouldn’t send in the same resume for every job opportunity. Tailor your resume to each job you’re applying for, based on the job’s specific tasks and requirements. For example, if the job focuses on government reportage, offer work history examples and skills that tie into solid government news reporting. Customizing your resume will also help you get past the applicant tracking systems (ATS) employers use to filter out candidates based on keywords. For more resume customization tips, see How to Create a Targeted Resume.
Pair Your Resume with a Matching Cover Letter
