If you're at university and thinking about journalism as a career, or you've already graduated and are looking to get your first break in journalism – our guide provides some essential info to help you on your way.
What kind of entry-level roles are there in news and journalism and what salary should I expect?
Trainee Reporter and Reporter roles at local newspaper groups tend to fall into the £21,000 - £25,000 bracket.
The Financial Times runs the Paul McClean graduate trainee programme which has a starting salary of £30,000.
Local journalist roles with the BBC start from around £27,000. ITV News traineeships pay £27,000 - £29,000, and junior production roles with ITV News start from around £27,900.
Magazine and online publisher Future advertises Editorial Assistant, News Writer and other junior roles with its titles in the £24,000 - £30,000 bracket, with roles based in London, Bath and remote in the UK. Junior reporter roles at trade magazines range from £23,000 to £30,000.
For a more detailed list of recently-advertised entry-level roles and salaries across newspapers, broadcast, magazines and online media, see our insight article: What does an entry-level role in news and journalism pay? [Exclusive to Creative Careers Club members]
Note that the 2023/24 UK Living Wage as an annual salary is around £23,400 and the London Living Wage is around £25,642.50. More info on the Living Wage.
Where can I find work experience and internships in news and journalism?
Here's a list of journalism work experience and internship programmes at major broadcasters / news organisations that have been active for start dates in 2024/2025:
Business Insider Fellowship Programme (6 months)
CNN London Internships (6 months)
The Economist Internships and Fellowships (variable length)
The Guardian's Positive Action work experience programme (2 weeks)
Financial Times Internships (12 weeks)
NBC Universal Internship Programme (1 year)
The Telegraph's Newsroom Work Experience Programme (2 weeks)
British Horseracing Development Programme - Racing Post, Sky Sports Racing etc (8 weeks - 1 year)
Wall Street Journal Business News internship (10 weeks)
For opportunities at other media organisations, spend time researching the publication and recent stories they've published so that you can write a great email about why you'd like to do a work placement with them. This is your chance to pitch yourself to them, like you'd pitch a great news story to an editor. Your research will also need to determine who the best person to email is – this could be a careers email for a larger organisation, or the editor / news editor for a smaller publication.
Where should I look for entry-level jobs in news and journalism, and do any employers offer graduate training schemes?
Check out the news and journalism category on our jobs board - all of the roles listed here include the salary.
There's also the Journo Resources jobs board (use the Starting Out filter to find entry-level roles), the NCTJ Jobs Board and the Journalism.co.uk jobs board. And Journo Resources has a comprehensive list of other sites that advertise journalism jobs along with links to the Careers pages for companies that employ journalists.
If you're interested in graduate training schemes, here are some programmes that have been active for 2024/25:
Financial Times Paul McClean graduate trainee programme (3 years) - read this Journo Resources guide for more info about the FT trainee programme
ITV Academy News Traineeship (9 months)
Telegraph Editorial Graduate Programme (22 months) - applications for the 2025 programme are open from mid-November to 18 December 2024.
What kind of skills do I need to get an entry-level job in news and journalism, and how do I write a good application?
The skills that commonly appear on job ads for entry-level journalist roles include:
excellent writing skills
strong journalistic instincts and the ability to find story angles
a desire to find and break compelling news stories
an understanding of media law eg copyright, contempt and defamation
strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to quickly establish good relationships with others.
Although shorthand is no longer a mandatory part of NCTJ training, some entry-level job ads state that shorthand skills are either essential or desirable. This Press Gazette article from 2020 quotes the editor-in-chief of PA News as saying shorthand is "an absolute requirement" for their roles.
This Guardian Foundation article has some good advice for successful journalism job applications and interviews, and the NCTJ has these tips on writing a good journalism job application.
What experience do I need to get an entry-level job in news and journalism?
It's common for entry-level jobs and even internships and fellowships to ask for experience with reporting and writing – so i's very helpful to build a portfolio of published work that you can share with potential employers. Working for student publications or volunteering for local charities / community organisations can be effective ways to get your writing published.
Work experience in a newsroom helps to demonstrate your commitment to a career in journalism. Most national newspapers, radio stations and high profile magazines offer short work experience placements and longer-term internships – but spending time at a local or regional newspaper, trade magazine or a local radio station can be just as effective in giving you valuable experience.
This Journo Resources article on breaking into journalism features tips from experienced journalists on how to get experience, with practical suggestions such as getting work experience in press offices of local organisations.
Do I need a degree to get an entry-level job as a journalist? And do I need to have studied journalism?
This Journo Resources article takes a detailed look at whether you need a degree to work in journalism – and the opening line addresses the challenge facing non-graduates: '"Getting into journalism without a degree has become a rarity." The NCTJ's Journalism at Work 2024 report found that 82% of UK journalists have a degree-level qualification, with the figure slightly higher at 89% among junior journalists who have started their careers in the last few years.
Many high profile media companies are taking positive action to widen access to careers in news and journalism, including through offering apprenticeships in news and journalism.
If you do have a degree, it's not essential for it to be a journalism degree. But some journalism training can be helpful when it comes to applying for jobs. NCTJ's Journalism at Work 2024 report found that 81% of journalists have a journalism qualification, with NCTJ qualifications being the most common. And 84% of respondents felt that their journalism qualification was important in helping them get their first job as a journalist – either because it was a requirement for the role, or because they felt that it made them more credible to the employer. Journo Resources has this helpful guide to NCTJ qualifications.
If you're looking for an entry-level journalism job without any prior journalism training, the NCTJ's Journalism Skills Academy has these free video masterclasses on key skills for journalists - covering topics from interviewing techniques to media law – and you can also enrol for free on several of its e-learning courses.
Are there any organisations, mentoring schemes or bursaries that could help me start a career in news and journalism?
Search our Opportunity Finder for mentoring scheme and bursaries that could help you develop your career in news and journalism.
A couple of good ones to know about right away are the Guardian Scott Trust Bursary which provides journalism MA funding for students who face financial difficulty in attaining the qualifications needed to pursue a career in journalism, and who come from backgrounds that are under-represented in the media – in particular those from a lower socio-economic background, Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ and people with a disability. As well as MA funding, recipients take part in paid work placements at The Guardian and have the opportunity for a 9 month fixed term contract at the Guardian after graduation.
And the Journalists' Charity First Jobs Fund provides financial support to new journalists who are struggling financially with essential costs. You’ll need to be in the first year of your career, either working full-time in journalism or about to start a new job with a firm offer of employment. If you’ve been a journalist for more than 2 years, you might qualify for other forms of financial assistance from the charity.