Journalist Resume Examples (+Journalism Resume Template)

Journalist jobs are constantly adapting to the state of media, but whatever its form, you’re still chasing a story. The skills required are the same, the responsibilities too.

So how do we make sure that your journalist resume doesn’t end up between the classifieds and the opera insert, but rather goes for the Pulitzer prize? That’s easy.

In this guide:

• A journalist resume sample that gets the interview. 
• Tips on listing your journalist resume skills for convincing effect.
• Expert hints to increase the chances of your journalist resume.

Let’s break this story.

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Are you applying for a range of positions? See our dedicated resume guides:

• Social Media Resume Examples
• Marketing Resume Examples
• Public Relations Resume Examples
• Grant Writer Resume Examples
• Copywriter Resume Examples
• Freelance Writer Resume Examples
• Photographer Resume Examples
• Art Director Resume Examples
• Video Editor Resume Examples
• Production Assistant Resume Examples
• Artist Resume / CV Resume Examples
• Film Resume Examples
• Freelance Resume Examples
• Music Resume Examples
• Videographer Resume Examples
• Creative Director Resume Examples
• Theater Resume Examples
• Translator Resume (CV) Examples
• Best Resume Examples for 200+ Professions

Journalism Resume Sample You Can Copy and Use

That’s a journalist resume ready for the front page story! They’ve been hired. Now here’s how to write your own:

1. Use a Professional Resume Format

You wouldn’t come to your interview unpresentable and unprepared (unless you’re at Gonzo Daily! I guess...). You would make a bad first impression. But actually, your resume is the first impression. So, why do so many people send disorganized, unclear journalist resumes?

We don’t know why, but we know they do. And that is good news for you—because after you apply the following resume tips, you will stand out like the first color photo. 

Here’s the business resume format:

Journalist Resume Format

• Order your experience in the reverse-chronological resume format. It’s a resume style preferred by most recruiters.
• Use presentable and legible resume fonts, like Arial, Calibri or Tahoma.
• Set 1-inch resume margins.
• How long should your resume be? Fit everything on a 1-page resume.
• Outline your resume like this: Resume Header, Objective, Education, Experience and “Additional.”
• Word or PDF? Save your resume as a PDFto protect formatting, unless instructed otherwise. 
• Use a basic resume template, it’s more readable. 

Expert Hint: One of the worst resume mistakes you can make is to underestimate the importance of studying the job description and getting to know the employer before you send your resume. 

2. Hit the Front Page With Your Journalist Resume Profile

If you had to complete your interview in the middle of a warzone, what would you prioritize? That’s the best way to think about your resume profile. What would really convince someone to hire you when mortars are raining down within sight?

Craft an attention grabbing professional resume summary by answering each questions concisely:

1. Who are you, what’s your experience (expressed as years+)?
2. What’s your most unique achievement?
3. What’s your most impressive/relevant achievement?
4. What can you do for this employer?

4-6 lines is plenty. Draw their attention and make them read the rest of your journalist resume.

Journalist Resume Summary—Example

Passionate journalist with 6+ years of criminal news desk coverage under his belt. Covering state and national homicide cases. Published author, correspondent and editor, having written and supervised the creation of 500+ articles on cold cases.

Experienced journalist, good at criminal case work and case analysis. I save a lot of time and money for our editors being head of social media for the station. I am very hard-working and can deliver on a deadline, hopefully for you.

Don’t hide behind empty statements and generalizations. Refer to real achievements, and hit them with your strongest suit. Use the same approach when writing an entry-level resume. Focus on your internships, school achievements, and transferable skills and craft a resume objective.

Journalist Resume Objective—Example

A digital journalism intern pursuing a Bachelor’s degree at XYZ State University with a portfolio of 50 articles (guest posts). Looking to apply strong writing and multitasking skills as a junior journalist for Grenada News. 

A hard-working journalist-to-be looking for his first job in the newsroom.

Which candidate would you hire? The thing is, it’s the same person! Remember: even if you’re a junior, you always have some achievements under your belt.

By the way, if you prefer a bullet-point form instead of a paragraph, try writing a qualifications summary.

Expert Hint: How to make starting a resume easier? It is by far easiest to do this once you have completed the other sections of your resume for journalist jobs, especially your job description.

3. Impress With Your Job Description and Skills

Sure, you’re in journalism, you developed relationships with sources and did lots of research. How to put such things on a resume? 

Think: how many cases would you go through a day? How well did you do? Did you get commended for anything? How did you stand out? When you tell the recruiter what you did at the previous job, they can imagine what you can do for them. So start each line with powerful resume words and use the STAR (Situation-Task-Action-Result) formula to help you out.

Journalist Resume Job Description 

Journalist

Crime Desk, Dallas

May 2015–Present

• Authored 100+ articles on 20 various criminal cases in Texas in the last year.
• Created and developed social media profiles for true crime lovers on Instagram and Facebook, with 150K+ followers and 400K on Twitter.
• Achieved the award of Texas Investigative Journalist of 2018 for series of 12 articles titled “Silent Night—Disappearance of Maggie Max”.
• Established cooperation with regional police, obtaining information about unresolved criminal cases from 30,000 archive files.
• Chief journalist of the column on missing people, 
• Leader of the team of 10 investigative journalists.
• Introduced a new online version of the newspaper and gained 8K subscriptions over the first six months.

Journalist

Criminal Cases, Texas, Dallas 

• 100+ articles published 
• Social Media Profiles on Criminal Cases
• Texas Investigative Journalist of 2018

For the things that deserve a mention, but don’t deserve a full line, there’s a way. You can list them in a separate section with skills for a resume, right under your work experience, or if you prefer, in a sidebar (in those fancy modern resumes!). See the list below for inspiration.

Journalist Skills for Resume

Hard Skills

• Adobe InCopy
• Adobe InDesign
• Photoreportage
• Column writing
• Social media and website management

Soft Skills

• Ability to work under pressure
• Communication skills
• Computer skills
• Decision-making skills
• Editing skills
• Ethics & Integrity
• Interpersonal skills
• Leadership skills
• Networking
• News writing
• Newsgathering
• Organizational skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Public speaking
• Shorthand
• Storytelling
• Time management skills
• Writing and research
• Writing skills

If you feel tempted to copy this list and paste it into your resume, don’t! Nobody likes generic resumes. 

Instead, take a look at the skills mentioned in the job ad. In your resume list only those the recruiter is interested in (only if you possess them of course, better not lie on a resume). This is called targeting a resume. It's also a crucial step in creating an ATS resume, which will greatly boost your chances of passing the initial resume screening.

The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now.

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4. Include Your Education Section

This is the easiest part of writing a resume. For your highest education level, just list the certification type, school name, and graduation date.

Here’s an example of how to add your education on a resume:

Journalism Resume Sample—Education

Education

Master of Sociology, 2011-2013

University of Texas, Austin

Bachelor of Media Studies, 2009-2011

University of Texas, Austin

If you’re writing a student resume or lack relevant experience, you can mention relevant coursework, GPA or Latin honors, too.

Expert Hint: Did you take four months off to help rebuild tornado-hit neighborhoods in Tennessee? When it comes to explaining employment gaps on a resume, it’s simply best to do it. Otherwise, there’s no way of telling what your prospective employer imagines you were doing. 

5. Report Added Sections to Your Journalist Resume 

Unlike most journalism resume examples would have you believe, the end of your resume is not an ‘About Me’ section. Only relay information which is relevant to the position, or one that shows your multitasking and willingness to take on responsibility.

These extra sections can be relevant:

• Awards
• Certifications
• Foreign Languages
• Hobbies, Activities, and Personal Interests
• Volunteering
• Professional References
• Skills—if you haven’t included them as part of your other sections

Compare these two journalist resume examples:

Journalism Resume—Extra Sections

Languages

• Spanish (fluent)
• French (beginner)
• Italian (beginner)

Certifications

• CPR Certification (American Red Cross)

Added Information 

• Speak Spanish, French, Italian
• CPR 
• Great with computers

Ring! Ring! You getting a journalist job is unavoidable now. Let someone else read your application to fish out any mistakes, and you’re set! If you don’t hear back within a week, give them a call.

Expert Hint: Every journalism resume will require a striking journalism cover letter.

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Key Points

Remember the following pointers:

• Stick to the resume format guidelines—margins, fonts, 1 page, reverse chronological.
• Sprinkle your journalist job description with achievements and numbers.

• Split up certifications, skills and other bonus sections properly. 
• Write a journalist cover letter. 

Did you find our journalist resume examples helpful? Did we help you get your resume for journalist jobs right? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply.

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