| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Media and Advertising |
| Level | Entry level |
| Reports to | News Editor |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | Fresher or up to 3 years in reporting |
Reporter job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Reporter
Department: Media and Advertising
Reports to: News Editor
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Reporter gathers, verifies and files news for a newspaper, channel or digital outlet. They chase leads, work sources, attend events and press conferences, do interviews, and write or present stories on their beat. The role works under a news editor or bureau chief. A good one breaks stories others miss, gets the facts right and attributed, files clean copy on deadline, and builds a network of sources who trust them, all while following the outlet's editorial and legal rules.
Key responsibilities
- Cover an assigned beat, track developments, and find stories before competitors do.
- Work sources, attend events, press conferences and the field to gather information.
- Verify facts from more than one source before filing, and keep records of what was said.
- Interview people on the record, and quote them accurately and fairly.
- Write clear, structured news copy or record pieces to camera on deadline.
- File from the field with photos, video or audio as the story needs.
- Follow up on leads and tip-offs, and develop exclusive and follow-up stories.
- Check every story for accuracy, balance and legal risk before submitting.
- Coordinate with the desk, camera and editing teams on packaging the story.
- Protect sources and follow the outlet's editorial and ethical guidelines.
Requirements
- Bachelor's or master's degree in journalism or mass communication
- Strong writing and language skills
- Knowledge of the beat or region is an advantage
- Fresher or up to 3 years in reporting
KRAs and KPIs for a Reporter
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Story output | File the agreed number of usable stories a week on the beat |
| Accuracy | Zero factual corrections or legal notices from filed stories over the period |
| Exclusives | Break a set number of exclusive or lead stories each quarter |
| Deadline discipline | Stories filed by the desk deadline on most days |
| Sourcing | Build and keep active sources across the beat, with stories sourced independently |
| Ethics | No breach of editorial or ethical guidelines in filed work |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Smartphone and recorder, Notebook, Camera or video kit, Content management system, News wire access.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Senior Reporter, Chief Reporter
Interview questions for a Reporter
- How would you develop a story on a civic problem in your city from scratch?
- A source gives you a strong tip but wants to stay anonymous. What do you do?
- How do you verify a claim before you file it?
- You are at a scene with 20 minutes to deadline. How do you file?
- How do you keep a story balanced when you have a strong personal view?
- Tell me about a story you are proud of and how you got it.
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Book a free demoSee pricingFrequently asked questions
What does a reporter do?
A reporter gathers, verifies and files news on an assigned beat. They chase leads, work sources, attend events and interviews, and write or present stories on deadline. They verify facts from more than one source, follow editorial and legal rules, and coordinate with the desk on how the story is packaged.
What is the difference between a reporter and a sub-editor?
A reporter finds and files the news from the field. A sub-editor stays at the desk, checks and polishes that copy, writes headlines and lays out pages. Reporting is about gathering the story; sub-editing is about preparing it for publication. Both work under the news editor and depend on each other.
What qualifications do you need to become a reporter?
Most reporters in India have a degree in journalism or mass communication and strong writing and language skills. Knowing your beat or region well helps. What matters most is curiosity, persistence and the ability to verify facts and file on deadline. Many start as trainees or interns and build sources over time.