Media & Communications Resume Examples

Journalist Resume Example & Writing Guide

Build a professional journalist resume. Includes news reporting examples, byline details, and tips for showcasing investigative work and media experience.

ATS-Optimized Expert-Written Updated 2026

Journalist Resume Example

Here's a professional journalist resume example that you can use as a reference. This example highlights the key sections and content that hiring managers look for.

Alex Johnson

Journalist

New York, NY | alex.johnson@email.com | (555) 123-4567 | linkedin.com/in/alexjohnson

Professional Summary

Award-winning Journalist with 6+ years of experience in investigative reporting, beat coverage, and multimedia storytelling for print and digital news outlets. Published 400+ bylined articles covering politics, business, and community news. Expert in source development, deadline reporting, and AP style.

Work Experience

Senior Journalist

2022 – Present

ABC Corporation, New York, NY

  • Published 400+ bylined articles for a regional newspaper with a daily circulation of 150K+ readers
  • Won 2 state press association awards for investigative reporting on government accountability
  • Broke a corruption story that led to the resignation of 2 officials and generated 500K+ pageviews

Journalist

2019 – 2022

XYZ Company, Chicago, IL

  • Produced daily deadline stories on a politics beat covering 3 municipal governments simultaneously
  • Grew the news outlet's digital audience by 35% through multimedia storytelling and social media engagement

Skills

Investigative Reporting • News Writing (AP Style) • Beat Coverage • Source Development • Interviewing • Fact-Checking • Multimedia Storytelling • Video Production • Audio/Podcast Production • Social Media Reporting • CMS (WordPress/Arc) • Deadline Management • Public Records Requests (FOIA) • Data Journalism • Photography

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism

Master of Arts in Journalism

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Journalist Resume Summary Examples

Your resume summary is the first thing hiring managers read. Here's a strong example for ajournalist with 6+ years of experience:

Good Example

Award-winning Journalist with 6+ years of experience in investigative reporting, beat coverage, and multimedia storytelling for print and digital news outlets. Published 400+ bylined articles covering politics, business, and community news. Expert in source development, deadline reporting, and AP style.

Avoid This

“Hardworking journalist looking for a challenging position where I can utilize my skills and experience. I am a team player with excellent communication skills.”

Why the first example works: It includes specific years of experience, quantified achievements, technical skills, and certifications — all things ATS systems and hiring managers look for.

Work Experience Bullet Points

Here are powerful, metrics-driven bullet points for a journalist resume. Notice how each one starts with an action verb and includes specific numbers:

  • Published 400+ bylined articles for a regional newspaper with a daily circulation of 150K+ readers
  • Won 2 state press association awards for investigative reporting on government accountability
  • Broke a corruption story that led to the resignation of 2 officials and generated 500K+ pageviews
  • Produced daily deadline stories on a politics beat covering 3 municipal governments simultaneously
  • Grew the news outlet's digital audience by 35% through multimedia storytelling and social media engagement

Pro Tip: Use the formula: Action Verb + Task + Quantified Result. For example: “Managed” + “team of 12 engineers” + “delivering project 20% under budget.”

Key Skills for a Journalist Resume

Include these skills on your journalist resume to pass ATS screening and impress hiring managers:

Investigative Reporting
News Writing (AP Style)
Beat Coverage
Source Development
Interviewing
Fact-Checking
Multimedia Storytelling
Video Production
Audio/Podcast Production
Social Media Reporting
CMS (WordPress/Arc)
Deadline Management
Public Records Requests (FOIA)
Data Journalism
Photography

ATS Keywords for Journalist Resume

These are the most important keywords that Applicant Tracking Systems scan for in journalist resumes. Include them naturally throughout your resume:

journalistreporternews writinginvestigative reportingAP stylebeat coveragebylinefact-checkingsource developmentmultimediadeadlineFOIAdata journalismCMS

Important: Don't stuff keywords. Use them naturally in your summary, experience, and skills sections. ATS systems can detect keyword stuffing and may flag your resume.

Education & Certifications

Education

  • Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
  • Master of Arts in Journalism
  • Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Certifications

  • FOIA Certification
  • Google News Initiative Training
  • Poynter Ethics Certificate
  • AP Style Certification

Expert Tips for Your Journalist Resume

1

Include publication names and circulation/audience size

2

List major awards and notable stories

3

Show beat experience and source development skills

4

Include multimedia capabilities (video, audio, photography)

5

Highlight digital audience growth and social media expertise

Journalist Salary & Job Outlook

Entry Level

$30K

Median Salary

$56K

Experienced

$80K

Job Outlook

-3% decline (2022-2032), competitive field

Source: BLS 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

What should a journalist put on a resume?

Include publication names, beat coverage, byline count, notable stories, awards, and multimedia skills. Show your range across print, digital, and social.

How do I transition from journalism to another career?

Highlight transferable skills — writing, research, interviewing, deadline management, and storytelling. These are valued in PR, content marketing, and communications.

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Quick Stats

Median Salary$56K
Experience Shown6+ years
Key Skills15
ATS Keywords14

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