View occupational profile

Search the OaSIS

Journalists

OaSIS code 51113.00

Journalists research, investigate, interpret and communicate news and public affairs through newspapers, television, radio and other media.

Overview

Also known as

  • Book reviewer
  • Broadcast journalist
  • Columnist
  • Correspondent
  • Cyberjournalist
  • Investigative reporter
  • Journalist
  • Network reporter
  • News commentator
  • Newspaper critic
  • Reporter

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Collect local, national and international news through interviews, investigation and observation
  • Write news stories for publication and broadcast
  • Receive, analyze and verify news and other copy for accuracy
  • Arrange for and conduct interviews as part of research and for radio and television programs
  • Research and report on developments in specialized fields such as medicine, science and technology
  • Prepare regular feature columns and stories on specialized topics
  • Write editorials and commentaries on topics of current interest to stimulate public interest and express the views of a publication or broadcasting station
  • Write critical reviews of literary, musical and other artistic works based on knowledge, judgement and experience.

Additional information

  • Experienced reporters may advance to editorial positions (print media) or become producers (broadcast media).
  • Journalists may specialize in print, broadcast or Webcast media, in particular issues such as political affairs or entertainment news, or in a particular geographic area.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Authors and writers (except technical) (51111)
  • Editors (51110)
  • Photographers (53110)
  • Announcers and other broadcasters (52114)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

5 – Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport

TEER

1 – Occupations usually require a university degree

Major group

51 – Professional occupations in art and culture

Sub-major group

511 – Professional occupations in art and culture

Minor group

5111 – Writing, translating and related communications professionals

Unit group

51113 – Journalists

Occupational profile

51113.00 – Journalists

Work characteristics

Work characteristics gathers the various components describing the work environment of each occupation, such as employers, work activities, and the work context. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of complexity (for Work Activities) or other measurement dimensions (for Work Context), and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Work Activities

Proficiency or complexity level
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization
5 - Highest Level
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
4 - High Level
Getting Information
4 - High Level
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
4 - High Level
Analyzing Data or Information
3 - Moderate Level

Work Context

Structural Job Characteristics

Structured versus Unstructured Work
Degree of freedom to determine tasks and priorities
3 - Moderate amount of freedom
Work Week Duration
Worked hours in a typical week
3 - More than 40 hours

Physical Work Environment

Physical Proximity
Physical distance from others
3 - Somewhat close (e.g. share office)

Physical Demands

Sitting
Duration
4 - More than half the time
Standing
Duration
2 - Less than half the time
Bending or Twisting the Body
Duration
1 - Very little time

Interpersonal Relations

Contact with Others
Frequency
4 - Every day, a few times per day
Duration
4 - More than half the time
Work with Work Group or Team
Importance
4 - Highly important
Frequency
4 - Every day, a few times per day

Workplaces/employers

  • Magazines
  • Newspapers
  • Recreational and sports facilities
  • Self-employment/free-lance
  • Television stations and networks

Skills and abilities

This section displays the various competencies required for an occupation. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency (for Skills and Abilities) or importance (for Personal Attributes) and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Abilities

Proficiency or complexity level
Speech Clarity
5 - Highest Level
Speech Recognition
5 - Highest Level
Fluency of Ideas
4 - High Level
Verbal Ability
4 - High Level
Written Comprehension
4 - High Level

Skills

Proficiency or complexity level
Oral Communication: Active Listening
4 - High Level
Oral Communication: Oral Comprehension
4 - High Level
Oral Communication: Oral Expression
4 - High Level
Social Perceptiveness
4 - High Level
Writing
4 - High Level

Personal Attributes

Importance
Attention to Detail
5 - Extremely important
Active Learning
4 - Highly important
Adaptability
4 - Highly important
Collaboration
4 - Highly important
Creativity
4 - Highly important

Interests

The OaSIS uses the Holland Codes to describe the work-related interests. According to the Holland model, people work best in work environments that match their preferences, which means that people and work environments can be matched for a best fit. Occupational environments in Holland’s theory are described according to a combination of main interests and the activities they represent. There are six interests in the Holland typology: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional. All occupations in OaSIS have up to three interests assigned to them.

Interests

Preferences for work environments and outcomes.

Interests profile: AEI

Artistic (A)

Artistic occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail artistic expression to create, compose or produce visual, performing, literary or applied art. These occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns and often require self-expression and the accomplishment of work without following a clear set of rules.

Enterprising (E)

Enterprising occupations are characterized by the dominance of action-oriented activities to attain organizational or self-interest goals. They frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects, influencing, leading or mobilizing people, making decisions, and sometimes require risk taking and dealing with business.

Investigative (I)

Investigative occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail the observation and systematic or creative investigation of physical, biological, or cultural phenomena. These occupations require an extensive amount of thinking and frequently involve working with ideas, searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Employment requirements

Employment requirements includes the education, training, certifications and the knowledge required to work in each occupation. The Knowledge category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency, and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of Knowledge descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Education, certification and licensing

  • A university degree or college diploma in journalism or a related field such as communications is usually required.

Knowledge

Knowledge level
Clerical
3 - Advanced Level
Communications and Media
3 - Advanced Level
Languages
3 - Advanced Level
Humanities
2 - Intermediate Level
Arts
1 - Basic Level

Skills for success

 
Skills for Success Model
 
Skills for Success are skills that help you in a quickly changing world. Everyone benefits from having these skills. They can help you to get a job, progress at your current job or even change jobs. The skills also help you become an active member of your community and succeed in learning.
 
 
Linkages Between ESDC Skills Models and Frameworks
 
ESDC makes available a dictionary of over 300 terms (or descriptors) and definitions, known as the Skills and Competencies Taxonomy (SCT). Descriptor information from the Taxonomy is used in the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS).
 
While there is general commonality of meaning between the descriptors in the SCT and the Skills for Success model, there are some differences in their definitions due to their distinct purposes. The Skills for Success Model [9 broadly defined skills] identifies the skills that are universally applicable. The SCT displays specific skills and competency requirements for 900 occupations. Users of the Skills for Success Model and Essential Skills content may find competency information from the Taxonomy and the OaSIS to be complementary.
 
Stay tuned to this section for more information and updates regarding linkages between the Skills for Success model and the OaSIS.

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

Date modified: