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Newspaper Reporters

THE JOB

Under the direction of an editor, NEWSPAPER REPORTERS gather and analyze
facts about current events through interviews, investigations, or
observations and write stories describing the events, background, meaning,
and effects.  They are assigned breaking news developments such as
disasters, crime, and human interest.  They take notes or use a tape
recorder while covering a story.  They check reference materials such as
books, news files, and public records including criminal and civil court
files for additional relevant facts.  Basic tasks of reporters involve
viewing events objectively, reporting them accurately, and explaining their
significance.

Reporters may be on a general assignment, special assignment, or have a
regular "beat."  Beat Reporters are responsible for news originating from
local sources such as municipal offices, hospitals, and police departments.
Feature Reporters are assigned to cover news in special fields such as
medicine, foreign affairs, consumer affairs, fashion, art, education, labor,
or social events.  Reporters who are expert in certain fields may specialize
in one type of story including stories involving sports, politics, or
financial affairs.  Reporters may also form their own concept for a feature
story and newspaper pictures.  They may carry their own camera and obtain
photographic coverage or they may request a photographer.

Another aspect of news reporting involves correspondents and "stringers" who
report from distant locations such as state or national capitols and
international locales.  Stringers are freelance reporters, often students or
nonprofessionals, who write news stories about their campus or community.

Reporters usually return to the office to write copy on a computer.  As
Reporters type their copy, it can appear simultaneously on their screen and
the editor's terminal screen, or the story can be sent to the editor after
it has been polished.  From the editor, it is transmitted to the composing
room computer which produces the story.  Sometimes, to meet deadlines,
reporters deliver their news story over the telephone or use portable
computers to enter the story which is then sent by modem directly to the
newspaper's computer system.


WORKING CONDITIONS

Although electronic technology has brought change to the newspaper office,
it has not diminished the need for reporters.  Automation has eliminated the
legendary clamor of the large news room in favor of a more high-tech
information producing operation.

Reporters often work unscheduled overtime, and must have a high energy level
to keep up with the fast pace of this occupation.  They must also be
prepared to work under stressful situations such as earthquakes, fires,
floods, shoot-outs, and other dangerous conditions.  

Reporters work both indoors and outdoors, dealing with all kinds of people.
They may work for long periods on unproductive leads.  Editors have the
option of revising, shortening, or deleting their stories from the newspaper.

When a newspaper is under union contract, reporters may be required to
become members of the local.


EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK

Entry into this profession is difficult due to a decline in employee
turnover, an oversupply of college graduates, and because of newspaper
consolidation.  The situation is brighter at suburban dailies and weeklies,
which are doing better than their urban counterparts.  Employers at big city
dailies have become selective in their hiring choices, aware of the intense
competition for the available entry-level reporter jobs.  Because of this
situation, many journalism graduates enter related fields such as
advertising and public relations.

The following information is from the California Projections of Employment
published by the Labor Market Information Division.  The figures represent
the broad occupational group Reporters and Correspondents which includes
Newspaper Reporters.

Estimated number of workers in 1993             4,640
Estimated number of workers in 2005             4,880
Projected Growth 1993-2005                         5%
Estimated openings due to separations by 2005  1 ,250

(These figures do not include self-employment or openings due to turnover.)

Employment in the newspaper industry is expected to grow at a rate well
below the average for all occupations in California.  Although the number of
small town and suburban daily and weekly newspapers is expected to increase,
the number of daily newspapers continues to decline, leading to fewer
opportunities for new reporters.  Electronic publishing, such as on the
Internet, is not expected to have an adverse affect on employment
opportunities, since good reporters will still be needed to write stories.


WAGES, HOURS, AND FRINGE BENEFITS

Newspaper Reporter salaries vary depending on whether the publication is
weekly or daily, its circulation, experience level of the reporter, the type
of publication, and whether the position is union.  

A 1996 salary survey conducted by the California Newspaper Publishers
Association indicates average weekly earnings for News Reporters as follows:  

Daily Publications*
Entry level:      $315 - 571/week
Experienced:      $383 - 800/week

Weekly Publications*
Entry level:      $332 - 379/week
Experienced:      $350 - 436/week

* The above wages include union scale

Critics, columnists, feature writers, and other specialists usually receive
salaries above union scale.  Reporters receive time off or are compensated
for overtime and for special assignments that require them to work under
hazardous or stressful conditions.  Stringers are paid according to the size
and type of news stories printed.

Newspaper Reporters work 37-1/2 to 50 hours, five days a week, often
including weekends.  Schedules depend on the newspaper's deadlines.
Reporters on morning papers generally work from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.,
while some work from late afternoon until midnight.  Those on evening papers
generally start early in the morning and finish in the early afternoon.
Exceptions are reporters on "special beats."  Night shift pay differential
is approximately $1.80 to $5/hr. extra per shift.


ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS AND TRAINING

Employers look for those who write clearly, accurately, and with correct
spelling and grammar.  Typing ability is essential and using computer
terminals for word processing is almost always necessary.  Bilingual skills
are necessary for some assignments.  At least some prior work experience on
an actual publication is expected. Internships, work on school newspaper or
as campus stringers are acceptable.

A four-year degree is the minimum educational requirement.  This is
especially true in large metropolitan papers with reporter staffs which can
easily be categorized according to academic specialties.  Increasingly,
large metropolitan papers prefer applicants with a master's degree.  Smaller
papers, on the other hand, prefer generalists rather than specialists and
look for people with broad experience in different fields. Aside from
academic and career related achievements, most papers also place a great 
amount of emphasis on personal characteristics such as curiosity, 
resourcefulness, competitiveness, and the ability to "dig" for information.

Co-majoring in such subjects as political science, economics, business or
finance can help in a job search.


ADVANCEMENT

Reporters receive salary increases and more interesting or challenging
assignments as they advance.  After many years of experience, reporters with
suitable talents may become columnists, special correspondents, or critics;
those with executive ability can become editors or administrators.


FINDING THE JOB

A resume and a typed letter requesting an interview should be sent to
editors, by name, several months prior to graduation.  Names and addresses
of news executives may be obtained from directories such as Editor and
Publisher Yearbook, Ayer's Directory, and the California Newspaper
Publisher's Association Newspaper Directory.  Applicants should be prepared
to furnish clean copies of their work, demonstrating the full range of their
reporting history.  Prospective reporters must have flexibility and
determination to survive in the highly competitive journalism job market.
Successful job seekers will be those who are willing to accept a position in
any location, if it offers media experience and entry into a news
organization.

ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION

California Newspaper Publishers Association
1225 8th St., Suite 260
Sacramento, CA  95814-4809
(916) 449-6000
www.cnpa.com

Northern California Newspaper Guild
433 Natoma St., 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA   94103
(415) 421-6533

RELATED OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES

Technical Writers               No. 138

OCCUPATIONAL CODE REFERENCES

DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th Ed., 1991)
Reporters                   131.262-018

OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) System
Reporters and Correspondents     340110


Source: State of California, Employment Development Department,
        Labor Market Information Division, Information Services Group,
        (916) 262-2162.