What classes do I have to take, and how long does it take to become a News Reporter??
2007-01-19 10:05:07 · 8 answers · asked by butterfly_eyez 2 in News & Events ➔ Media & Journalism
The best thing to do is major in journalism in college. In college, you'll be able to report for your campus newspaper or television station. You'll also get leads to internships.
Regardless of whether you want to be a broadcast journalist or print journalist, you need to be a good writer. Work on spelling, grammar, punctuation, Associated Press style (the most widely used), and coming up with effective leads for your stories.
While you're doing that stuff, read, read, and read -- a variety of sources. Read the local, national, and world news every day; know what's going on.
2007-01-19 14:36:42 · answer #1 · answered by Ryan R 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I'm a reporter and I don't have a degree. I covered a local event, took it in to the paper and handed it to the editor. She gave it to a senior reporter who spent a few minutes telling me about style and it went to press. I had another assignment the next day and have been in the business 7 years. I now write for national and international magazines and my byline has appeared in 7 countries on five continents. Not bad for high school salutatorian in a class of 4.
In other words, you can and probably should pursue a 4 year degree in journalism if you have the time and funds. But you don't have to if you're willing to learn and can write to order.
2007-01-19 15:23:55 · answer #2 · answered by SLA 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need a degree in broadcasting. It will cover all your bases. There will be classes in writing, broadcast law, as well as a few technical things such as running cameras, making graphics etc.
The best way to get your foot in the door is to start at the bottom. Apply for a grunt job at a small t.v. station. As jobs open up, ask to train for them. If you are a good worker you will work your way up quickly. Get to know the people in the booth. They can make or break you. Learn all you can from watching others. Although a degree is important, experience is also extremely important. Be nice to everyone because this business is all about who you know.
If you are nice to the right people you can use your down time to make demo tapes, watch your tapes, and correct your problems. If you work part time while you are getting your degree than by the time you have that degree you will have an excelent demo to go along with it.
If you can't get in at a t.v. station right off, try radio. It is also fast paced and great for working on your skills.
By the way, you need to get ready to work long hours for no money. Where broadcasting is a lot of fun with great perks, the pay stinks, and I mean REALLY stinks. A station will have a couple of higher paid anchors and you will not be one of them until you have been on the job a LONG time. You also need to know how to talk about anything, and I mean anything. You never know where your spot will open. The sports guy might get mad and quit in a huff, and you have to jump in. The weather reporter might have car trouble one night.
If you get the time squeeze in some marketing classes, and learn to market yourself.
Bottom line - 4 years of hitting books and fetching coffee to get on air in a small market, but from there you will sink or swim quickly
best of luck
2007-01-19 10:28:48 · answer #3 · answered by Rixie 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
There's no one way to becoming reporter. You can do the school or someone like Anderson Cooper got started freelancing some news reports. You have to get involved in news agency soon as you can either find some internship, small part time job...etc so you can get to know people in the business.
2007-01-19 12:34:35 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Strong writing abilities are priority one. You're going to need a 4 year college degree, not necessarily majoring in journalism. My route would to get a degree in a foreign language with a minor in journalism.
The top journalism schools in the US are: Univ. of Missouri, Univ. of Georgia, Syracuse Univ., Univ. of Florida, and Northwestern. I know there are more out there, but those are some off the top of my head.
Good luck. News media is a fun and exciting field to get into.
2007-01-19 10:18:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would call different colleges and ask them to send you a program you'd need to become a News Reporter. They should all have advisors to speak with you as to a future in that area. Good luck!
2007-01-19 10:12:16 · answer #6 · answered by Bud's Girl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A four year degree in journalism.
2007-01-19 10:13:20 · answer #7 · answered by snowangel_az 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
some journalism classes.
2007-01-19 10:09:05 · answer #8 · answered by nickle 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋