Reporters in the print and broadcast media make news items available to the public. Some report on local, national, or international events. Others write critical reviews of literary or artistic works based on personal knowledge, judgment, and experience.
Editors may assign stories or articles to reporters. Reporters also need to pitch their own ideas. This means they suggest ideas for stories they feel would interest the public.
Reporters translate complex issues into concise, informative news stories. To do this, they research and verify information from:
- Documents
- Meetings
- Interviews
- Conferences or court hearings
- Artistic performances or sporting events
- Press statements
- Tips
They also conduct in-person, telephone, or virtual interviews with:
- Individuals involved in news events
- Witnesses
- Subject matter experts
- Others whose activities are of public interest
They either take notes or record the interview to preserve the information given by the interviewee.
Reporters organize the information they have gathered into factual or analytical reports. The stories they produce must be accurate, fair, and balanced.
More and more reporters use smartphones at the scene of a news story. They shoot photos and videos that can be posted to their organization’s website and social media channels right away. They may need to edit their own photos or videos when required.
Reporters maintain a presence on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Flickr, blogs, and forums. On these sites, they:
- Post breaking news
- Provide updates on ongoing developments
- Monitor other posts for news and tips
Different types of reporters may have other responsibilities.
Broadcast reporters often report live from the scene of a news event. They may compose their story on the spot. They also may:
- Obtain video footage of current news events
- Gather sound and video for news, current affairs programs, and documentaries
- Conduct interviews using digital or tape recorders
- Conduct live on-air interviews
- Write and edit their own reports, supervised by a news editor or director
- Help to direct camera operators who are filming news events
In smaller radio and television stations, broadcast reporters may operate electronic equipment. This can include television cameras and broadband link as well as audio and video editing machines and software.
Magazine reporters may do more in-depth research than news reporters. This is because magazines have more specialized readerships and often publish longer stories. Some magazine reporters work on a freelance basis.
Newspaper reporters use computers to compose and edit text. They send copy to an editor or the newswire (in the case of a wire service). Some print reporters provide photos or videos for their stories. They may use phones to write and post stories to websites or social media channels while on assignment.
Novice reporters and those working for small weekly newspapers may receive a variety of assignments in addition to covering all aspects of local news. These may include:
- Taking photographs
- Writing headlines and captions
- Laying out pages
- Editing wire service copy
- Writing editorials or columns
With experience, they may progress to:
- General reporting or covering a beat (a certain news area such as police, city hall, or law courts)
- Writing analytical material or syndicated columns, which may be distributed to a large group of newspapers or magazines
- Producing syndicated audio or video reports for subscribing radio or television stations
- Reporting for news services that provide printed material to subscribing newspapers and magazines
- Producing features, investigative pieces, or short documentaries
Online producers (reporters) write stories for websites. These stories may include audio, video, and print components. They may write original stories or adapt traditional news items.
For information about photojournalists, see the Photographer occupational profile.
