Where a journalist can go next
12 destinations recorded, ranked by how much of the target role a journalist already meets. The closer to the top of Table 1, the less there is to learn.
Journalists research, verify and write news stories for newspapers, magazines, television and other broadcast media. They cover political, economic, cultural, social and sport events. Journalists must conform to ethical codes such as freedom of speech and right of reply, press law and editorial standards in order to bring objective information.
Also known as financial journalist, business journalist, correspondent, commentator, web editor, news anchor, crime journalist, investigative journalist, political journalist, sports journalist, news writer, science journalist.
Professionals 119 skills on file 12 career moves 8 above 60% overlap Closest: newspaper editor, 81%
- 70% and above · short step
- 50 to 70% · real move
- Below 50% · substantial retraining
Table 1 · Within reach
- magazine editor 80% covered · difficulty 22.1
- editor-in-chief 74% covered · difficulty 31.6
- newspaper editor 81% covered · difficulty 24.5
- blogger 66% covered · difficulty 39
- broadcast news editor 64% covered · difficulty 42.5
- picture editor 64% covered · difficulty 43.1
- vlogger 63% covered · difficulty 43.1
- news anchor 62% covered · difficulty 43
- fact checker 58% covered · difficulty 37.9
- speechwriter 56% covered · difficulty 42.8
- copy editor 56% covered · difficulty 42.5
- editorial assistant 55% covered · difficulty 44.5
Table 2 · What the job itself asks for
A journalist needs 20 required skills and areas of knowledge. These 10 are the ones fewest other jobs share, so they say the most about the work.
- digital journalism social sciences, journalism and information
- stay up to date with social media information skills
- evaluate writings in response to feedback communication, collaboration and creativity
- build contacts to maintain news flow communication, collaboration and creativity
- follow ethical code of conduct of journalists assisting and caring
- participate in editorial meetings communication, collaboration and creativity
- editorial standards social sciences, journalism and information
- use specific writing techniques communication, collaboration and creativity
- write to a deadline management skills
- study topics information skills
Look up another occupation
Journalist is filed under Professionals, ISCO major group 2. The full index lists all ten groups.
How these figures were compiled
Overlap is how much of the target role is already part of a journalist’s work. It is directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. Every entry above opens the full comparison for that move: what carries over, what is missing, and where to start. The full method.