Requirements

Journalist - requirements

As a journalist, you’ll use your creativity, research and writing skills to produce stories, articles and features. You might work for a local or national newspaper, magazine or trade publication. Learn more about becoming a journalist, how your career might develop, and what you’ll need to do to get a job.

Know what you'll need to land a job below.

What qualifications do you need to be a journalist?

While you don’t need a degree to become a journalist, the skills you’ll get from a related undergraduate course will go a long way.

Some graphic design roles may prioritise portfolio work over educational qualifications, but bear in mind that career progress without formal training is usually very hard, which is why most professional graphic designers have some form of relevant higher qualifications.

Subjects to consider include:

Please note this is a beta version. We'll continue to improve our suggestions here so that we show you the most relevant subjects.

Do you need a postgraduate qualification to be a journalist?

Getting a role as a journalist is possible without a postgraduate degree, but this is becoming more difficult. Studying at postgraduate level will help you gain more specific experience and widen your networks.

Journalism courses accredited by the NCTJ or the Professional Publishers Association (PPA) will make you more attractive to employers.

What skills do you need to be a journalist?

As well as excellent research and writing skills, you’ll need creativity and imagination in order to pitch new, engaging stories.

Hard skills usually include:

Writing
Critical thinking
Research
Proofreading
IT

Soft skills include:

Attention to detail
Communication
Motivation
Organisation
Resilience

Do you need work experience to be a journalist?

Work experience is really important at the start of your career in journalism. You’ll need to be proactive to find opportunities, for example by contacting your local paper and offering to volunteer, starting your own blog, or submitting reviews for online publications.

Make the most of your time at uni by volunteering with the student newspaper or magazine, and join organisations such as the NUJ on a student membership. The NUJ offers training and networking events, which can be helpful at the start of your career.