Journalism

Journalism is a dynamic and fast-paced profession that involves researching, writing, and presenting news and stories across platforms including print, online, radio, television, and social media. It plays a vital role in society by informing, educating, and holding people and institutions to account. Journalists often specialise in areas such as politics, culture, science, or sport. Entry is competitive and often begins through freelancing, internships, or postgraduate training.

Explore job roles

Journalists work in many formats and outlets, from national broadcasters and newspapers to specialist publications and independent online platforms. Roles increasingly require digital skills including podcasting, video editing, and social media engagement

Use the job profiles below to find out about, skills, entry routes and experience

Tip: Use the information about skills in the profiles to help you build a tailored CV.

Getting in and getting experience

Gaining work experience is essential. You could build your portfolio by writing for student or local media, blogging, podcasting, or creating content on YouTube or social media. Speculative approaches and industry contacts are key, as many roles are unadvertised.

Accredited postgraduate courses (e.g. National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC) are common routes into the industry. Some schemes also exist, such as the BBC Journalist Apprenticeship and ITV News Traineeship.

Gain relevant experience and skills while you study

Finding and applying for jobs

You can find entry-level jobs in journalism via job boards, but many journalists start as freelancers or through internships and build their portfolio over time. Keep track of stories you’ve published or content you’ve created.

Find vacancies

Further resources

Next steps

When planning your next steps you may have additional questions or want to explore certain aspects in more detail: