# News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists

> Narrate or write news stories, reviews, or commentary for print, broadcast, or other communications media such as newspapers, magazines, radio, or television. May collect and analyze information through interview, investigation, or observation.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/news-analysts-reporters-and-journalists
- SOC code: 27-3023.00
- Career family: Arts, design and media
- Median annual pay: $62,200 (10th percentile $36,240, 90th percentile $144,140)
- Projected growth: Decline, -5.9%
- Openings a year: 3,400
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code AIE)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 8 |
| Investigative (I) | 53 |
| Artistic (A) | 68 |
| Social (S) | 30 |
| Enterprising (E) | 49 |
| Conventional (C) | 44 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 96/100)
- Processing Information (importance 92/100)
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 91/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 88/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 87/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 86/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 85/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 85/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 85/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 85/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Writing, Active Learning, Social Perceptiveness, Time Management, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination

## Knowledge

English Language, Communications and Media, Computers and Electronics, Telecommunications, Customer and Personal Service, Law and Government, Geography, Administration and Management, Mathematics, Public Safety and Security

## Also called

Anchor, Anchorman, Art Critic, Basketball Commentator, Blogger, Book Critic, Book Reviewer, Breaking News Reporter, Broadcast Journalist, Broadcast Meteorologist

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Communication and Media Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0901) (CIP 0901, 1,386 colleges)
- [Radio, Television, and Digital Communication](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0907) (CIP 0907, 653 colleges)
- [Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0909) (CIP 0909, 621 colleges)
- [Journalism](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0904) (CIP 0904, 544 colleges)
- [Agricultural Public Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0108) (CIP 0108, 48 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [University of Pennsylvania UPENN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pennsylvania-upenn-3009) | Communication and Media Studies | $65,287 | $114,266 | not reported |
| [Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA Tech](https://www.collegesref.com/college/georgia-institute-of-technology-main-campus-ga-tech-1072) | Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | not reported | $99,915 | $20,437 |
| [Northwestern University-Illinois](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northwestern-university-illinois-1966) | Communication and Media Studies | $64,034 | $93,541 | $19,500 |
| [Rochester Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rochester-institute-of-technology-2250) | Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $65,196 | $91,222 | $25,500 |
| [Syracuse University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/syracuse-university-2667) | Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $63,858 | $90,535 | $24,250 |
| [Southern Methodist University SMU](https://www.collegesref.com/college/southern-methodist-university-smu-2498) | Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $56,398 | $89,330 | $17,375 |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Communication and Media Studies | $63,499 | $88,463 | $10,000 |
| [University of Southern California USC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-southern-california-usc-3050) | Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $63,165 | $87,946 | $12,125 |

## Related careers

- [Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/broadcast-announcers-and-radio-disc-jockeys): $47,340 median pay
- [Editors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/editors): $77,920 median pay
- [Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/poets-lyricists-and-creative-writers): $76,910 median pay
- [Writers and Authors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/writers-and-authors): $76,910 median pay
- [Producers and Directors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/producers-and-directors): $90,360 median pay
- [Media Programming Directors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/media-programming-directors): $90,360 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.