In the world of journalism, you’re the story-hunter who brings those hidden tales to light. With a curiosity that goes deep, you dig up facts, break down events, and spin narratives that shape how we see things.
Your knack for catching the heart of a moment keeps the info flowing smoothly to the public. Making a resume that shows off all your skills can be far more intricate than crafting a news piece—but don’t worry, because we’ve got you covered.
We’ve got the job application know-how to steer you toward victory. Just follow our tips and journalist resume examples to impress recruiters and land your next job.
Why this resume works
- Ads are still, by a significant measure, the biggest revenue source for many media outlets and particularly for newspapers. If you can show your track record in increasing sales revenue through strategic ad placements to attract advertisers then you’ll not be hunting for a job for long.
- To make it count in your journalist resume, highlight your collaboration effort with the marketing team to bring in more ads and boost revenue margins.
Why this resume works
- Think of a student journalist resume as your front-page headline—it must be compelling and clear, drawing attention to transferable skills valuable in a newsroom internship.
- For instance, think about that time in the Newspaper Club, which wasn’t just an after-school activity, but a key chapter for refining your ability to sniff out news, engage with sources, and craft stories that capture the essence of the moment. By spotlighting such a stint in your piece, it’s proof you’re ready to hit the ground running, even in a role that’s usually more about picking up new skills.
Why this resume works
- You’re a data journalist, so numerical and statistical data is the air that you breathe. Now, how about peppering your piece with metrics that flaunt your mastery of the game and hammer home how valuable you’d be to your future?
- Take a leaf from Christine’s data journalist resume: statements like “driving an additional 24,897 visitors to the website and boosting engagement metrics by 38%” and “aggregated and cleaned data from 18 tech blogs using Python scripts” are pure gold.
Why this resume works
- Few other things are as impactful in a sports journalist resume as genuine metrics. Yes, it’s about letting numbers do the talking for you by lending credibility to your claims.
- You’re probably thinking about percentage increases and decreases now. However, naturally blending them with dollar amounts, time savings in hours, number of social media followers or subscribers, and video views brings a much-needed variety to your narration.
Why this resume works
- Audience engagement is critical for media outlets, especially radio and TV. Then, why let not your ability to foster numbers and discussions across multiple platforms stay in the shadows when they could add substantial flair to your broadcast journalist resume?
- Can you recall when your piece of targeted content boosted YouTube subscribers, views, or web visitors? Or when you capitalized on your social media management prowess to spark lively conversations online? Spotlighting such moments could be the golden ticket to a job interview with your dream company.
Why this resume works
- The purpose of content is to fit the needs of readers. And if you can satisfy their needs, you’re doing a great job. You should be proud. To impress potential employers with your achievements, detail how, through your content, you increased readers’ satisfaction.
- For instance, your freelance journalist resume can capitalize on how you created compelling content to increase monthly page views.
Why this resume works
- When industry stakeholders recognize your efforts, it’s evident that your impact is felt not just at your immediate place of work but across the sector. When you receive awards in recognition for your exemplary performance, be sure to use that to your advantage.
- Including your three journalist awards for exceptional reporting in your multimedia journalist resume will give recruiters a reason to hire you.
Related resume examples
Craft a Journalist Resume That Fits the Job
Your journalist resume acts as a canvas where your skills paint vibrant stories. Think of it as your chance to shine! Pick out skills that sync up with your dream role and what you’re awesome at.
Instead of vague or cliche resume skills, dive into specifics. If you’re going for a tech-oriented role, emphasize things like data analysis tools, multimedia software, and content management systems. Journalism’s all about talking the talk, so it’s good to toss in some soft skills too, like smooth interviewing, adaptability, and collaboration.
Just remember to stay true to what the job wants and what you have experience in. If you’re going for an editor role, weave in some leadership and project management skills as well.
Need some inspiration?
15 popular journalist skills
- WordPress
- Google Analytics
- Tableau
- Hootsuite
- Final Cut Pro
- SEMRush
- Moz
- Interviewing Skills
- Photography
- Research Methods
- Editing
- Proofreading
- Adaptability
- Microsoft Office
- Google Workspace
Your journalist work experience bullet points
As a journalist, your work experience should be more than just a list of everyday tasks. Sure, tracking down stories, doing interviews, and writing compelling articles is key, but what really shines are the big wins that showcase your impact.
Sprinkle in some active verbs and plenty of quantifiable metrics to highlight your achievements in more detail. For example, maybe your investigative piece led to a policy change, or you boosted website hits by 50%.
Being a journalist means shaping how people see the world and driving engagement for your company, so focus on the broader outcomes that prove you can inform, inspire, and connect with audiences effectively.
- Showcase the impact of your articles by mentioning metrics like social media shares, comments, and interactions.
- Highlight your ability to attract and retain readers with metrics related to audience growth.
- Quantify the reach of your work by mentioning metrics like the number of publications, outlets, or websites your articles have been featured in.
- If you’ve worked on investigative pieces, mention metrics that show the tangible effects of your work, such as reporting a corporate scandal that led to regulatory actions.
See what we mean?
- Drove a 61% increase in website traffic through the use of visually interactive infographics and videos
- Received 3 journalism awards for exceptional reporting, representing a 14% increase in recognition compared to the previous year
- Managed and optimized the editorial budget, achieving an 8% cost reduction without compromising content quality
- Secured and conducted interviews with industry experts, with an acceptance rate of 88%
9 active verbs to start your journalist work experience bullet points
- Uncovered
- Crafted
- Interviewed
- Generated
- Analyzed
- Collaborated
- Achieved
- Advocated
- Coordinated
3 Tips for Writing a Journalist Resume as a Beginner
- Embrace your learning journey
- So, you’re new to the game—no biggie! Flaunt what you’ve learned by talking about projects from your coursework. For example, chat about teaming up with other students to create a captivating multimedia news package, demonstrating your storytelling abilities.
- Shout out your internships
- Even if they were quick, internships can do wonders for your resume. Show off the real-world skills you developed during your journalism internships, whether you tackled local happenings or wrote up some fun listicles.
- Mention passion projects
- Don’t underestimate the power of passion projects or hobbies. Got a blog, podcast, or community newsletter? Let the recruiters know! These projects prove your enthusiasm and passion and show that you’re willing to go the extra mile, giving recruiters a glimpse of your potential in a professional capacity.
3 Tips for Writing an Outstanding Journalist Resume if You’re Experienced
- Show off your skills
- Flaunt the skills you’ve picked up along the way. Whether you’re a pro at digging into investigations, crunching data for stories, or cooking up multimedia magic, let those talents shine. And if the job clicks with your specializations, the effect will be even more potent.
- Numbers tell the story
- If your articles boosted engagement or helped increase social media followers, put those digits on display. Numbers make your impact crystal clear and prove you’re not just any reporter—you’re the attention-grabbing kind.
- Display your leadership qualities
- After a few years on the job, you might be ready to apply for an editor-in-chief position, or you may already have such experiences on your resume. Whether you want to level up to a senior journalist or run a whole department, use your resume to highlight past instances of leadership, such as when you took charge of an interesting story or oversaw a team of junior colleagues.
ATS can be a puzzle, but you’ve got this. Pepper your resume with relevant keywords from the job listing. Mirror the company’s language where you can. And remember, while keywords matter, your actual skills and experience are the stars.
Numbers that show impact are the way to go. Think social media shares, article engagement rates, or growth in readership. Highlight how your reporting caught eyes and sparked conversations.
Only if they’re really relevant. Certifications in data journalism or multimedia storytelling can be impressive, just as things like the NICAR certificate, but if they’re not directly tied to the role, they might not be essential.
