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  Working Week Programme 3 Journalist   Background Information: Background to the work The British press goes back more than 300 years, when William Caxton introduced the first English printing press. By the early 16th century the first ‘newspapers’ began to emerge and the first regular English daily paper was launched in 1702. Nowadays the press is part of a billion-pound, multi-national media industry, with thousands of publications and multiple opportunities across a range of media. Journalists work in a variety of environments: newspapers, magazine and industrial publications, radio and television broadcasters, online publications and news agencies. Suitability The qualities a journalist needs include:
The hours are often long and unsociable. Print journalists will often have to work shifts, which include nights and weekends. Most working environments are open plan and noisy and you have to be able to conduct sensitive conversations in a public arena. Pay scales vary enormously according to experience and specialisation. While top broadcast journalists and newspaper editors can earn high salaries (some over £100,000), the starting pay for newspaper trainees is low (£8,000–£12,000). Magazine and radio trainees may earn a bit more (£14,000 –£21,000) There is a lot of legwork to chasing a story, from painstaking research to physically knocking on doors. Conditions for some specialist journalists can include ‘hostile conditions’, for which you need special training and which can be extremely uncomfortable and very dangerous. Almost 30 per cent of journalists work on a freelance basis. While it gives you some freedom and a range of opportunities, it is also very insecure and makes managing finances difficult. A driving licence can be very important on some journalism jobs! Training Many excellent journalists do not have degrees, but more than 60 per cent do! Requirements vary, but most editors will look for at least two A levels with one of them ideally English. Failing that, evidence that you can study, research and write a balanced, cohesive story in good, plain, easy-to-understand English will be needed. Work experience on student or other publications will be very helpful. There are two ways into print journalism:
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