Journalist resume template & examples

Resume guide for a journalist resume

Fitly here to assist. Our resume builder and proven resume examples covering over 500 professions will give you the edge in landing your ideal journalist job. This resume guide and associated journalist resume example will address the following points:

• Selecting the best resume format for journalism
• Including your contact details
• Crafting an engaging summary
• Detailing your journalism work experience
• Highlighting relevant key skills
• Listing your education & credentials
• Choosing an effective resume layout and design

Let’s get started!

How to write a journalism resume

Before you begin, it’s important to know what sections your journalist resume should include. These essential parts are:

• Profile
• Work Experience
• Education
• Skills

Your resume should reflect the unique perspective and skills you bring as a journalist. Start by researching the company and position you’re applying for. Understand their editorial focus and audience, then tailor your resume to demonstrate why you’re the perfect journalist to contribute. Follow this approach:

• Emphasize your published work and achievements rather than just listing job duties. Concrete examples of impactful stories or scoop will strengthen your case.
• Customize your resume for each opportunity by mirroring the employer’s tone and expectations.
• Convey a professional yet dynamic image using a polished resume template that reflects journalistic style—clear, concise, and compelling.
• Incorporate relevant keywords to ensure your resume passes applicant tracking systems and grabs the recruiter’s attention.

Choosing the right resume format for journalism

Your resume should be clear, professional, and easy to read — qualities every journalist strives for in their writing.

Among the various resume formats, the reverse chronological format is usually the best choice. It highlights your most recent reporting or editorial roles first, then works backwards through your career.

If you’re changing careers or have diverse experiences, a functional format focusing on skills and strengths rather than work chronology can be beneficial. Alternatively, a hybrid format combining chronological and functional elements works well for many journalists.

Explore the resume templates available in our resume builder and select the style that best reflects your professional story. Plenty of examples exist to guide you.

Opt for a neat, modern, or professional layout for your journalist resume, as this will reinforce your personal brand.

Include your contact information

The resume header is your chance to clearly identify yourself and provide easy ways for hiring editors to reach you. It’s critical to present this information cleanly and professionally.

Be sure to include:

• Your full name
• Your professional email address
• Your phone number
• Your LinkedIn profile or professional website/portfolio link (if applicable)

Avoid including:

• Your home address
• Personal details not relevant to your professional profile

Crafting a compelling summary

Journalism is an innovative and fast-paced field, so don’t hesitate to inject personality into your journalist resume. The summary—or profile—is where you add a human touch and challenge any clichés about journalists being distant or impersonal.

Think of your summary as your professional story—highlighting your expertise, work ethic, and voice. This section allows for more creativity compared to the standard bullet-point resume sections.

Use energetic language, active verbs, and positive narratives. Let your character come through while avoiding repetition of details elsewhere in your resume. Showcase themes about who you are, your journalistic style, and key accomplishments.

Below are adaptable journalist resume summary examples you can use:

Detail your journalism work experience

Following the reverse chronological format, begin with your current or most recent journalism position at the top and work backward. Limit your experience to the past 10-15 years to maintain relevance and avoid any age bias.

Include only roles directly related to journalism. If you have other experiences to showcase, consider adding a separate "Other Experience" section.

Under each employer and job title, list your responsibilities and achievements as brief, specific bullet points. Avoid personal pronouns. Begin each bullet with a strong action verb like reported, investigated, wrote, edited, or produced.

Focus on concrete outcomes instead of just tasks. Use numbers or examples wherever possible to demonstrate your impact.

For instance, generic bullets like these:

• Conducted interviews and researched stories
• Wrote articles for publication
• Edited news pieces for accuracy

Are too broad. Consider these enriched versions:

• Investigated and reported on over 50 local government stories, increasing community engagement by 20%
• Authored feature articles published in national outlets reaching an audience of 100,000+
• Edited and fact-checked news pieces to ensure 100% accuracy under tight deadlines

Review the sample journalist employment history resume below:

Highlight the relevant key skills

Journalism demands a blend of hard and soft skills. Your journalist resume should predominantly highlight measurable hard skills like expertise in multimedia reporting, SEO knowledge, content management systems, and social media proficiency. Equally important are soft skills such as critical thinking, communication, adaptability, and investigative acumen.

Keep your skills section concise and tailored to the journalism job you seek. Maintain a master list of your competencies and select the most relevant ones for each resume version based on the job description.

Fitly offers pre-written journalist key skills in the resume builder, and you can also add custom skills as needed.

Here’s an example skills section from a journalist resume template:

List your education & credentials

The education section of your resume provides evidence of your formal training as a journalist. Journalism is a professional discipline where hiring managers expect relevant academic credentials.

Journalists typically hold a degree in journalism, communications, English, or a related field. Postgraduate qualifications or specialized training can further strengthen your candidacy.

Include certifications or workshops relevant to journalism and media such as fact-checking courses, multimedia storytelling certificates, or digital media training.

Consider also internships or fellowships that provided hands-on experience, especially if you’re early in your career.

Selecting the right resume layout and design

The overall layout, design, and formatting form the basis for capturing and maintaining a recruiter’s focus on your journalist resume. These elements together shape their initial impression.

To convey professionalism and creativity typical of the journalism field, opt for a clean and contemporary resume design. Journalists are associated with clarity, curiosity, and credibility — your resume template should mirror those traits.

Consider what the design communicates about you as a candidate before choosing a template. For most editorial roles, a straightforward and well-organized template is recommended, while some creative journalism positions may benefit from a more modern or expressive style.

Explore our field-tested resume templates to find a design that simplifies formatting and optimizes presentation.

Journalist job market and outlook

The journalism industry continues to evolve rapidly in response to digital media trends. While traditional print roles have declined, demand for versatile journalists skilled in multimedia storytelling is growing.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for reporters and correspondents is projected to decrease slightly by 4% from 2021 to 2031. However, opportunities will remain in digital media, broadcasting, and specialized reporting niches.

The median annual wage for reporters was approximately $49,300, with top earners exceeding $90,000 per year, reflecting experience and market.

Success in journalism increasingly depends on adaptability, technological proficiency, and a strong personal brand across platforms.

Key takeaways

Journalism is a dynamic profession requiring a blend of investigative skill and storytelling flair. A well-crafted journalist resume will highlight your unique experiences and achievements, while remaining concise and targeted.

Though some traditional reporting jobs show slight decline, digital and multimedia journalism offer promising opportunities for adaptable professionals.

Median salaries vary widely based on role and experience, with top journalists earning significant income through strong portfolios and niche expertise.

Focus on tailoring each resume to the specific role, emphasizing your measurable impact, multimedia skills, and professional growth to stand out in a competitive field.