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Journalist

Journalists research and publish news for broadcast, online and print outlets. Routes include journalism degrees accredited by the NCTJ, postgraduate diplomas, or apprenticeships with publishers. Build a portfolio from school onwards. Starting pay varies widely; see the official journalist profile.

Stages

  1. 1

    GCSE choices

    Strong English.

  2. 2

    A-level or equivalent

    English, history, politics or media subjects.

  3. 3

    University or degree apprenticeship

    NCTJ accredited BA journalism or any degree plus NCTJ diploma.

  4. 4

    Work experience

    Student newspaper, podcast, or local blog with sourced stories.

  5. 5

    Internships and insight

    Newsroom internships when outlets advertise them.

  6. 6

    Graduate schemes

    Trainee reporter roles or digital content assistant jobs.

  7. 7

    First role

    Junior journalist after NCTJ exams where required.

Entry requirements

Portfolio and NCTJ qualifications for many UK newsrooms.

Prospects

Salary range

See source.

Prospects
Exam and deadline tracerPath quiz

Custom Path

Build a personalised checklist for this path with reminders and sync. Pricing is in GBP until confirmed with product. Marked as assumption until confirmed.

No Stripe price configured yet? Join the student waitlist via checkout desk or email through schools.

Questions

Is print dead?

Most entry roles are digital first. Skills transfer across formats.

Where do entry requirements come from?

Prospects publishes the baseline for this role. Always confirm on the live page before you apply.

Does Navigait list every vacancy for this path?

No. We surface live posts from public employer boards. If a scheme is closed, the board stays empty rather than showing invented roles.

Journalist career path · Navigait · Navigait