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.
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:
“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.”
“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:
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:
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
Include publication names and circulation/audience size
List major awards and notable stories
Show beat experience and source development skills
Include multimedia capabilities (video, audio, photography)
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?
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