Journalist Job Description Examples for Recruiters

To draw in the best candidates, writing a compelling and precise job description is essential. From defining core responsibilities to highlighting desirable skill sets, your job ad must resonate with potential applicants and align with modern journalistic demands. In this article, we'll explore journalist job description examples that have proven effective for recruiters, examples that not only capture the essence of the role but also inspire top talent to apply.

What Is a Journalist?

A journalist is a professional who investigates, collects, and presents information to the public through various media channels such as newspapers, television, radio, and the internet. They play a crucial role in society by uncovering facts, questioning authority, and providing analysis and context to current events. Journalists gather stories through research, interviews, and observation, ensuring accuracy and reliability while adhering to ethical standards and maintaining objectivity. Their work involves translating complex issues into digestible pieces that inform, educate, and sometimes entertain the audience. By doing so, journalists contribute to an informed citizenry, essential for a functioning democracy, and often act as a watchdog to hold those in power accountable.

Where to Find Them?

• Journalism-/Media-specific job boards (e.g. JournalismJobs.com, IRE, GIJN, RTDNA, AAJA, etc.)
• General job boards (LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, etc.)
• Freelance/contributor platforms (Upwork, Freelancer, etc.)
• University/journalism school connections
• Professional associations/unions
• Media-industry networks/referrals
• Social media/content platforms (Twitter/X, Substack, Medium, etc.)

Journalist Job Description

We are seeking a journalist who possesses compelling and clean writing skills and can adhere to our strict ethical guidelines. The role’s main responsibilities are to research and uncover interesting news through the interpretation of data and interviewing key persons.

Journalist Responsibilities

• Research and uncover interesting news.
• Collect and verify data gathered.
• Interview relevant persons to gather more information.
• Draft articles within deadlines and keep in mind the point of view of the readers.
• Investigate assignments or leads.
• Grow a network of contacts for future use.
• Collaborate with journalists and other team members.
• Stay up-to-date with industry trends and developments.
• At daily meetings, conduct research and submit story ideas.
• Report in an unbiased and ethical manner.
• Maintain a professional image for the news channel.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in Journalism, Communications, or the English field
• 2+ years of experience in journalism or writing and publishing topics online
• Computer literate
• Familiarity with digital publishing tools/CMS, SEO, and social media.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and manage multiple projects.
• High level of integrity, impartiality, and strong ethical judgment.

Required Skills

• Excellent writing & storytelling skills. Strong editing/proofreading skills.
• Interviewing skills; ability to ask probing/challenging questions.
• Research skills, including the ability to use data, information sources, and public records.
• Multimedia skills (if required): video shooting/editing, audio, and photography.

Challenges in Hiring Journalists

• Declining Employment & Layoffs: Media organizations like CNN, Vox, HuffPost, and NBC have made mass layoffs; over three years, nearly 10,000 editors & reporters have been laid off.
• Skill Diversification Demands: Employers expect journalists to possess a broader range of skills, including multimedia, video, audio, social media, graphics, and data visualization. This raises the bar, especially for mid- and senior-level roles.
• Ethical / Disinformation Pressure: With the rise of AI and disinformation, there's increasing pressure on checking, verification, and ethical standards. Journalists are concerned about the risk of fake content; a survey of 504 Basque journalists found that about 90% believe AI will considerably or significantly increase risks of disinformation.
• Freelance/Insecure Work Models: More journalists are working freelance, on contract, or under less stable employment. E.g., in Europe, many journalists need supplementary income; “false freelancers” (freelancers doing what seems like permanent work) are rising. France’s median for full-time journalists vs freelancers shows big differences

How Much Does It Cost to Hire?

• U.S. Median Salary: For news analysts, reporters, and journalists, the median annual wage was US$60,280 in May 2024.
• Business Journalists Premium: A salary survey (Reynolds Center / Business Journalism) shows that business journalists earned at least 30% more than the average journalist in many outlets in 2025.
• Freelance / Europe Example: In the Netherlands, a freelance journalist earns on average €59,638/year (~ €29/hour); entry-level positions are around €42,748; senior positions are around €73,551.
• France Permanent vs Freelance: Permanent journalists: median of about €3,650/month (≈ €43,800/year); freelancers: about €1,951/month (€23,400/year), in many cases, depending on assignments, etc.

Depending on the country, experience level, and medium (print vs digital vs broadcast), costs can vary widely. For example:

• A junior journalist might cost significantly less (entry level), but may require more editing/supervision.
• Senior/investigative/multimedia journalists can command much higher salaries and benefits.

Conclusion

Recruiting a quality journalist in 2025 means balancing realistic salary/total-cost expectations with the increasing skill demands (multimedia, ethics, and adaptability). Given economic constraints, shrinking traditional newsroom budgets, and rising expectations from audiences/digital platforms, recruiters need to craft clear, compelling job descriptions, use the right sourcing channels, and offer enough incentives (monetary, but also mission, growth, and flexibility) to attract and retain talent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What should be included in a journalist's job description?

A: A good journalist job description includes the job title, summary, responsibilities, qualifications (see template above), compensation, reporting lines, working conditions, and how to apply. It should clearly state what skills are essential vs nice-to-have and whether multimedia, data, travel, etc., are part of the job.

Q: How do I write a journalist job description to attract top talent?

A: Emphasize mission, impact, and growth (e.g., investigative work, multimedia exposure). Be clear about expectations (e.g., “cover social media as needed,” “shoot video,” etc.). Offer competitive salary/benefits and flexibility when possible. Show what makes your newsroom/outlet different.

Q: Where can we post our journalist job description so it reaches qualified candidates?

A: Use journalism-specific job boards (GIJN, JournalismJobs, IRE, etc.); general job boards (LinkedIn, Indeed); social media; professional associations; university programs; and networks/referrals.

Q: How important are multimedia/digital skills in a journalist's job description now?

A: Very important. Digital publishing, video, audio, and social media are increasingly required. Outlets expect journalists to operate across platforms. If those skills are missing, you may struggle to find candidates who meet modern requirements.

Q: Should we hire freelance vs. full-time staff journalists?

A: It depends. Freelancers can offer flexibility, less overhead, and lower commitment. But full-time staff help with consistency, institutional knowledge, loyalty, bigger investigations, and brand voice. A mixed model is common, especially given budget constraints and project-based work.