How to become a journalist

Source: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/careers/graduate-jobs/how-to-become/how-to-become-a-journalist Parent: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/careers/graduate-jobs/how-to-become

Information is correct as at August 2025. Before deciding whether to pursue a career, you are advised to contact your college careers service for the most up-to-date guidance.

Getting started in journalism

From current affairs to sport, and from fashion to travel, journalists make their living reporting on a variety of different areas.

If you want to get into journalism, you could pursue a career in print journalism (writing for newspapers, or magazines), broadcast journalism (becoming a news reader, or presenting) or online journalism (writing for web publications). Many journalists move between print and broadcast during their careers.

Already a Sussex student? See our journalism sector guide.

Routes into journalism

There are a range of different routes to get into print, broadcast and online journalism.

You can usually study any degree to become a journalist, but some employers may want to see a formal journalism qualification as well. Or you may be able to take an industry-standard qualification without a degree.

Print journalism and online journalism

There are many routes into print and online journalism. Some of these may include:

studying an undergraduate degree and then taking a National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ)-accredited postgraduate qualification. Some employers want to see that your journalism course covers shorthand, law, public affairs and news writing
taking a NCTJ-accredited undergraduate journalism degree
applying for the NCTJ qualification without a degree. Some courses accept students with relevant GCSEs or A-levels, or relevant experience.

If you want to get into journalism with no experience, some employers offer on-the-job training schemes.

The NCTJ is a requirement for most local newspapers/magazines. Some national papers/magazines may not require it but might ask for two years or more experience on a paper or magazine.\ \ See the NCTJ's advice for becoming a print journalist.

Find out more about print journalism from careers website Prospects.

Find out more about online journalism courses from Prospects. - Broadcast journalism

There are many routes into broadcast journalism. Some of these may include:

taking a Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC)-accredited degree or postgraduate course in a related subject
taking an undergraduate degree and then studying a BJTC-accredited journalism qualification
moving from print journalism into broadcast. You then may be able to work as a print journalist to gain experience before applying for roles in broadcast, although it can be difficult to move between the two sectors.

See the BJTC's guidance for becoming a broadcast journalist.

You can also find out more about broadcast journalism from careers website Prospects.

For broadcast, print and online journalism, a small number of employers offer graduate schemes, insight and talent days.

If you haven't studied a degree yet, and want an idea of courses you may be interested in, you might want to browse our media-related subject areas:

Skills required

Whatever area you decide to go into, responsibilities for journalists include:

ensuring that a range of voices and views are accurately represented
engaging with legal and ethical processes
researching and sourcing story ideas
conducting interviews
writing, editing, presenting, recording or filming stories.

This means you may need skills in and knowledge of:

how to research effectively
how stories are created
writing for a range of platforms and styles
contemporary issues
media law and ethics
accuracy and attention to detail.

£14kstarting salary (but this depends on your publication or broadcaster)
£22kaverage salary (after two or more years but this depends on your employer)
40hours a week (but hours are variable with some evening and weekend work and depends on your employer)
CareerSome print journalists can take exams after 18 months to become a senior reporter (known as the NCE or NCJ)

Freelancing is common at all stages of a journalist's career so income can fluctuate and hours are often longer than above. Average salary and working hours from the National Council for the Training of Journalists.

How to get journalism experience

As well as qualifications, employers want to see that you have some experience of working in journalism.

You can do this by:

getting work experience on a local or national publication or at a regional or national broadcaster
securing an internship or placement
writing for your school, college or university newspaper or magazine
working on your university's radio or TV station.

If you are studying or decide to study at Sussex, you may be able to:

get advice from our careers team
browse our placement opportunities
talk to staff from our School of Media, Film and Music who may have worked in journalism.

Journalism.co.uk has advice on how to apply for work experience.\ \

Specialist journalism roles

You may decide you want to specialise in a particular type of journalism, such as sport, fashion, or politics.

The entry routes for these roles is largely the same as above, but you may need a few years experience working as a trainee news reporter and/or pass senior reporter exams before specialising.

This is because some employers prefer to see that a reporter has well-rounded news experience before they specialise.

How to become a news journalist

Most trainee journalists start off as news reporters on local newspapers or at regional broadcasters before they specialise into more niche roles. See our routes into journalism.

You may decide to study an undergraduate degree before pursuing your career or apply directly to a NCTJ-accredited course in journalism. If you do decide to study a degree first, you may still need a NCTJ-accredited qualification for local print journalism, and a BJTC-accredited course for broadcast journalism.

It's also a good idea to start writing for your school, college or university newspaper or magazine, or join your institution's television or radio channel. Try to get work experience at a local or national newspaper, or at a regional or national broadcaster. \ \ If you haven't studied a degree yet and want an idea of courses you might be interested in at Sussex, browse our undergraduate degrees or journalism degrees. - How to become a magazine journalist

Some trainee journalists decide to go straight into magazine journalism. Magazine journalists need the skills of a news reporter but also the ability to tailor stories to a particular demographic and an awareness of how to attract advertisers. \ \ There are many routes into magazine journalism. These include:

taking any undergraduate degree or a journalism degree at university and then take a NCTJ-accredited course in magazine or news journalism
taking the NCTJ in news or magazine journalism without studying a degree first.

See Prospect's guidance for becoming a magazine journalist.

If you haven't studied a degree yet and want an idea of courses you might be interested in at Sussex, browse our undergraduate degrees or journalism degrees. - How to become a sports journalist

Sports journalists report on sports events for print publications or broadcasters.

There are many routes into sports journalism. Some of these include:

following the same route as a news reporter and then specialising. When you have a few years experience of reporting the news, you may be able to ask (or apply) to specialise in sport
taking any undergraduate degree or journalism degree and then take a NCTJ-accredited course in Sports Journalism. See the Sports Journalists' Association guidance for becoming a sports reporter.

For sport broadcast journalists, another route is to study a broadcast journalism degree and then you may be able to apply directly for a sports position.

To be a sports journalist, you have to demonstrate strong sports knowledge and experience, such as:

commentating on local charity events, matches at your school or university
working at your student radio or TV station.

You may need to record examples of your reporting to show to potential employers. \ \ If you haven't studied a degree yet and want an idea of courses you might be interested in at Sussex, browse our undergraduate degrees or journalism degrees. - How to become a travel journalist

There are many routes into travel journalism. Some of these may include:

following the same route as a news reporter and then specialising
taking a language-related degree before studying your journalism qualification, so you can demonstrate specialist knowledge and language ability in the countries you want to cover.

It may also help to:

start a travel blog or vlog about places you have travelled to, this will also help you showcase your ability to potential employers
find original and interesting angles that set you apart from travel guides.

Paid travel reporter roles are rare, and some people decide to become freelance and pitch travel features to editors. See The Guardian's advice for becoming a travel reporter.

If you haven't studied a degree yet and want an idea of courses you might be interested in at Sussex, browse our language-related degrees. - How to become an investigative journalist

If you want to become an investigative journalist, you may decide to follow the same route as a news reporter.

Investigative reporters are similar to news reporters but they tend to:

carry out a more indepth enquiry into stories
find different angles
pick up on leads that might not be immediately obvious.

They are more analytical in their approach, and may spend time submitting Freedom of Information requests to organisations or reading through reports. They will then build a case by gaining the trust of interviewees and backing up their claims with real-life testimonies.

You can start to hone your investigative journalist skills from day one as a news reporter - attending council meetings, submitting freedom of information requests, and analysing reports to expose stories will help you build up a portfolio and apply for specialist roles.

See Journalism.co.uk's advice on becoming an investigative journalist. - How to become a science journalist

There are many routes into science journalism. Some of include:

following the same route as a news reporter and then specialising. You may be able to do this by asking to cover more science-based stories for your publication or broadcaster and building up a portfolio or news reel to show to potential employers
taking a science-related degree and then a journalism qualification, and applying directly for science reporter or broadcaster roles on trade publications or programmes.

Deciding which science degree to take depends on the area you want to specialise in. There is anything from medical journals, to psychology magazines to biology publications out there. \ \ If you haven't studied a degree yet and want an idea of courses you might be interested in at Sussex, you can browse our:

See Prospects' guidance for a career as a science journalist. - How to become a political journalist

A political reporter has an interest in local, national and international political activity, elections, campaigns and debates. \ \ There are many routes into political journalism. Some of these include:

following the same route as a news journalist and then specialising. You may want to work up a portfolio or news reel of politics-related stories while you are a news reporter and then apply for the role of politics reporter when you have the relevant experience. For example, you could cover local elections, or council meetings and build up professional contacts
taking a politics-related degree before your journalism qualification, so you can demonstrate knowledge in your chosen field. You may then be able to apply directly for political journalist positions.

If you haven't studied a degree yet and want an idea of courses you might be interested in at Sussex, browse our politics-related degrees. - How to become a fashion journalist

There are many routes into fashion journalism. Some of these include:**

following the same route as a magazine journalist and then specialising. Or if you want to break into the world of a fashion broadcast journalist, you may want to follow the route into broadcast and then specialise. Try to get experience of reporting at fashion shows so you can build up a portfolio or news reel
taking a fashion course, and then applying for an internship to gain experience. You may then be able to apply for a post as a fashion or editorial assistant and work your way up to a fashion reporter.

Whichever path you choose to take, you should try to network in the fashion world and build up your contacts, and also learn about the history of fashion.

Women's magazine Cosmopolitan has some good advice for breaking into the fashion industry. - How to become a business journalist

There are many routes into business journalism. Some of these include:**

following the same route as a news journalist and then specialising. You may be able to ask to cover business-related stories, such as economic and growth plans for a town or city, or go to a company's annual general meeting, so you can build up your portfolio or news reel and apply for business reporter roles. Try and build up contacts in the business community. Some local papers or regional broadcasters have business editor posts.
taking a business or economics degree and then a journalism qualification. You may then be able to apply directly for reporter roles on business to-business or trade publications, at regional broadcasters or national newspapers.

If you haven't studied a degree yet and want an idea of courses you might be interested in at Sussex, browse our:

Studying at Sussex

If you choose to study your degree at Sussex, you'll benefit from:

careers support for up to three years after you graduate
the chance to join our alumni network Sussex Connect
mentoring schemes so you get real-world advice, support and experience while you study.