How journalists work each day

Definition

An information professional and writing specialist, the journalist searches for subjects, collects information for a selected audience, checks it, sorts and writes it. There are several facets in the journalist’s profession: he can go from the editor of the sports section of the local newspaper to the great reporter travelling the world, passing by the cultural critic working on the radio or the presenter of the newspaper at 8 p.m. But whether he is a columnist, editorial writer, reporter, journalist, image reporter (JRI), editor, editorial secretary (SR), agency, investigator or even correspondent abroad, his role clear publicist is above all to transmit information to its audience.

Mission

Whether in a newsroom or as a special envoy, each journalist begins his day by peeling the newspapers, selecting subjects, learning the news, attending editorial boards, all with the aim of defining the information that will make the headlines, special files, scheduled interviews, etc.

Information is gathered through interviews with targeted people, the organization of press conferences or by participating in demonstrations. It’s a job that requires a lot of monitoring, research and making contact. In this context, mastery of the Internet is becoming increasingly important.

Once all the elements in hand and before writing his article (or his radio or television intervention if applicable), the journalist checks his sources and the reliability of the information collected so as not to disclose incomplete or erroneous elements to his readers. He is the guarantor and the vector of the good transmission and the good comprehension of information by his public and of this fact can profit from a position of expert or referent.

Next comes the stage of writing, fast, clear and respecting the tone used by the medium. It must capture the reader’s attention quickly. The journalist can convey neutral information, but he is also perfectly capable of giving an opinion, making a comment or criticism.

Finally, he transmits his articles to the editorial staff for editing and printing the support. The pen having been replaced by the computer, we can ask the journalist to send articles ready to be edited, namely already illustrated and laid out (so he needs to know a bit about the technique ;-)).

To date, it is the periodical press and, second, the PQR (regional daily press) which employ the most journalists. 60% of them work in Ile-de-France. The other journalism professions are much less represented, for example, there are 450 journalists in image reporting (TV) in France.

Qualities

Great writing skills and speed of writing.

Curiosity and general knowledge.

Analysis and spirit of synthesis.

Dynamism and flexibility.

Know how to assert oneself and a critical mind.

Sense of contact and creativity.

Type of employer and work environment

After their internship period (longer and longer), journalists can work in an agency (press, corporate communication for example), or directly for the media: professional, daily, regional or local press, but also for magazines or for the specialized press. They are also found in radio stations or on certain television programs, and increasingly on the web.

The daily life of the journalist is very different depending on whether he is a salaried worker or “freelance”. This second mode of operation consists of being paid for each “paper”, survey or article. It is of course much more precarious but many professionals hold on to this status which allows them autonomy and freedom and which calls upon the famous “press card”.

constraints

In addition to working in an extremely competitive environment, the journalist must know how to work in stress and in urgency, because he must finish everyday articles that are no longer current the next day. It is a profession that requires almost total availability, as well as a reactive and adaptable mind: it can happen that it stops at any time its work to devote itself to an unexpected event.

Required training

In terms of studies, there are establishments which issue diplomas recognized by training, such as Celsa in Paris and the famous journalism schools in Lille, Toulouse or Strasbourg.

But it is also accessed via a university sector (of which 80% of journalists would come from): studies of letters, law or especially political science (Sciences Po Paris and its Masters in journalism for example), or even with licenses / master’s degrees in information and communication.

Remuneration

Compensation can range from 20 to 40 K € gross annually, depending on experience and type of business (national press or regional press for example) and status (employee or freelancer). It is with the number of years that we can evolve in terms of function and therefore in terms of salary.

Note: These averages are based on Elaee figures cross-checked with annual French studies on our businesses.

Comment Elaee

A job that dreams of many young people, motivated by films like “Citizen Kane” by Orson Welles (inspired by the life of the press magnate Randolph Hearst) or better still “The men of the President” where the valiant journalists Redford and Hoffmann denounce the Watergate.

However, we discover with amazement that this job, even if it is difficult to reach, is one of the lowest paid in the profession. In fact, this situation is historic and it is not only due to the crisis in the press world with the loss of its paying readers.

In any case, the Internet is revolutionizing both the function and the way of working and it is certainly on this new medium that we will see the most job creation tomorrow.

Kenneth

Kenneth is a proud native of sydney, born and raised there. However, he pursued his education abroad and studied in Australia. Kenneth has worked as a journalist for almost a decade, making valuable contributions to prominent publications such as Yahoo News and The Verge. Currently, he serves as a journalist for The Hear Up, where he focuses on covering climate and science news. You can reach Kenneth at [email protected].