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Reporters and Correspondents
An occupation in Arts and Humanities
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Collect and analyze facts about newsworthy events by interview, investigation, or observation. Report and write stories for newspaper, news magazine, radio, or television.


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Artistic - Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.


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1. Report and write news stories for publication or broadcast, describing the background and details of events.

2. Arrange interviews with people who can provide information about a particular story.

3. Review copy and correct errors in content, grammar, and punctuation, following prescribed editorial style and formatting guidelines.

4. Review and evaluate notes taken about event aspects in order to isolate pertinent facts and details.

5. Determine a story's emphasis, length, and format, and organize material accordingly.

6. Research and analyze background information related to stories in order to be able to provide complete and accurate information.

7. Gather information about events through research, interviews, experience, and attendance at political, news, sports, artistic, social, and other functions.

8. Investigate breaking news developments such as disasters, crimes, and human interest stories.

9. Research and report on specialized fields such as medicine, science and technology, politics, foreign affairs, sports, arts, consumer affairs, business, religion, crime, or education.

10. Receive assignments or evaluate leads and tips in order to develop story ideas.

11. Discuss issues with editors in order to establish priorities and positions.


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Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.


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English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.


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Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

Education: Most of these occupations require a four - year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Training: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.


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The college search results are undergraduate programs associated with Reporters and Correspondents. Further education may also be required to pursue this career.

The training search results include both short and long-term programs associated with Reporters and Correspondents, and may be more appropriate for adult and non-traditional students. Further training may also be required to pursue this career.


Find Training Courses in New YorkFind Colleges in New YorkAgricultural Communication/Journalism. - A program that prepares individuals to apply journalistic, communication, and broadcasting principles to the development, production, and transmittal of agricultural information. Includes instruction in basic journalism, broadcasting, film/video, and communication techniques; the production of technically specialized information products for agricultural audiences; and the principles of agricultural sciences and business operations needed to develop and communicate agricultural subject matter in effective ways.


Find Training Courses in New YorkFind Colleges in New YorkMass Communication/Media Studies. - A program that focuses on the analysis and criticism of media institutions and media texts, how people experience and understand media content, and the roles of media in producing and transforming culture. Includes instruction in communications regulation, law, and policy; media history; media aesthetics, interpretation, and criticism; the social and cultural effects of mass media; cultural studies; the economics of media industries; visual and media literacy; and the psychology and behavioral aspects of media messages, interpretation, and utilization.


Find Training Courses in New YorkFind Colleges in New YorkJournalism. - A program that focuses on the theory and practice of gathering, processing, and delivering news and that prepares individuals to be professional print journalists, news editors, and news managers. Includes instruction in news writing and editing; reporting; photojournalism; layout and graphic design; journalism law and policy; professional standards and ethics; research methods; and journalism history and criticism.


Find Training Courses in New YorkFind Colleges in New YorkBroadcast Journalism. - A program that focuses on the methods and techniques for reporting, producing, and delivering news and news programs via radio, television, and video/film media; and that prepares individuals to be professional broadcast journalists, editors, producers, directors, and managers. Includes instruction in the principles of broadcast technology; broadcast reporting; on- and off-camera and microphone procedures and techniques; program, sound, and video/film editing; program design and production; media law and policy; and professional standards and ethics.


Find Training Courses in New YorkFind Colleges in New YorkPhotojournalism. - A program that focuses on the use of still and motion photography in journalism and prepares individuals to function as news photographers and photographic editors. Includes instruction in photography, journalism, studio procedures and techniques, camera and equipment operation and technique, news editing, print and film editing, news scene composition, subject surveillance, media law and policy, news team field operations, and professional standards and ethics.


Find Training Courses in New YorkFind Colleges in New YorkJournalism, Other. - Any instructional program in journalism not listed above.


Find Training Courses in New YorkFind Colleges in New YorkPolitical Communication. - A program that focuses on human and media communication in the political process and that prepares individuals to function as members of political and public affairs organizations, political campaign staffs, and related government and media entities. Includes instruction in media effects, political speaking and debating, political advertising and marketing, image management, political journalism, opinion polling, and aspects of print and broadcast media related to the production and distribution of media messages in political settings.


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In NY the average wage for this occupation was:

$27,610 for entry level workers, and $77,680 for experienced workers.


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Based on the total number of annual openings and its growth rate, the employment prospects for this occupation are described as Least Favorable.

During 2006, there were approximately 6,090 Reporters and Correspondents employed in NY.

We estimate that in 2016 there will be 5,820  employed in NY. This represents a decrease of 0 job(s) each year, and a total of 190 job openings each year.


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News analysts, reporters, and correspondents - Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.

Broadcast Journalists and Newswriters - Visit this link for information on this career in the military.


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Radio and Television Announcers - Talk on radio or television. May interview guests, act as master of ceremonies, read news flashes, identify station by giving call letters, or announce song title and artist.

Public Address System and Other Announcers - Make announcements over loud speaker at sporting or other public events. May act as master of ceremonies or disc jockey at weddings, parties, clubs, or other gathering places.

Broadcast News Analysts - Analyze, interpret, and broadcast news received from various sources.

Editors - Perform variety of editorial duties, such as laying out, indexing, and revising content of written materials, in preparation for final publication.

Technical Writers - Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers - Create original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry or song lyrics, for publication or performance.


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