How Do I Become a Broadcast Journalist?

To become a broadcast journalist, you should seek out opportunities to work in radio or television organizations in order to gain practical experience in journalism. You should also, if possible, complete a degree in journalism through a college or university. Depending on the type of work you wish to do and your previous education and experience, you may wish to pursue additional training to improve your writing, knowledge of the subject matter that you wish to report on, and public presentation skills.

Broadcast journalists work in the areas of television or radio programming. If you are a high school student, you may be able to begin your quest to become a broadcast journalist by participating in broadcast journalism activities through your school. Some schools have radio or television shows that are produced on campus. If your school does not offer broadcast journalism opportunities, you may still wish to participate in print journalism by volunteering for your school's newspaper. Other courses that you may wish to take would include broadcasting, advanced writing courses, and possibly even drama.

In general, someone who wishes to become a broadcast journalist should complete a university degree in journalism. Choose a university that offers a journalism degree with a broadcast journalism emphasis and that has its own student-run radio and television stations. While you are in school, try to get part-time work or internships at local media outlets. In general, having real-world experience will be crucial if you are to become a broadcast journalist. When choosing non-journalism courses, try to choose a wide range of courses that can provide you with a sufficient breadth of knowledge that can help you become an accurate reporter of different types of news.

As much of broadcast journalism takes place in a live format, you may wish to work on developing poise and spontaneity through taking acting classes or studying improvisational comedy. While your school may offer courses in these areas, in many communities professional acting and improvisational comedy schools often teach classes to amateurs who simply wish to improve their presentation and speaking skills. In some cases, it may be to your advantage to obtain an advanced degree in journalism, particularly if you plan to move into management or want to work at an elite news outlet. If you feel that you want to specialize in a specific topic, you may wish to obtain an advanced degree in that area instead of or in addition to an advanced journalism degree.