Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a TV Journalist

🎯 Role Definition

This role requires a passionate and tenacious TV Journalist (also known as a Multimedia Journalist or MMJ) to join our dynamic news team. The ideal candidate is a compelling storyteller with a strong on-air presence and an unwavering commitment to journalistic ethics. You will be the face and voice of our news coverage, responsible for finding, investigating, and reporting stories that matter to our community. This role requires you to be a one-person band: a reporter, videographer, editor, and digital content creator who can thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. You will be expected to generate enterprise story ideas, build a network of sources, and deliver accurate, balanced, and engaging content for broadcast, web, and social media.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

News Production Assistant
Associate Producer
Journalism Intern or Fellow
Reporter at a smaller market station or newspaper

Advancement To:

Senior Reporter / Chief Correspondent
Weekend/Weekday News Anchor
Investigative Journalist
News Producer or Executive Producer
Assistant News Director / News Director

Lateral Moves:

Public Relations Specialist or Manager
Corporate Communications Director
Digital Content Strategist or Creator
Documentary Producer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conceptualize, research, and develop compelling, original enterprise story ideas on a daily basis that are relevant to the local audience and reflect community interests.
Establish, cultivate, and maintain a robust network of sources and contacts within the community, including government officials, law enforcement, and community leaders, to generate exclusive leads and breaking news.
Independently shoot, frame, and compose broadcast-quality video using professional ENG cameras, ensuring stable shots and clear audio for all news packages and VOSOTs.
Write clear, concise, and conversational scripts for on-air broadcast, adhering strictly to Associated Press (AP) style, and ensuring factual accuracy and proper attribution.
Edit video packages and VOSOTs using non-linear editing software (e.g., Adobe Premiere, Edius), often under intense deadline pressure, to create visually engaging and narratively coherent stories.
Present news stories live from the field or in-studio with a professional, authoritative, and engaging on-air presence, effectively conveying information to the audience.
Conduct thorough, well-researched, and probing interviews with subjects from all walks of life, demonstrating empathy while maintaining journalistic objectivity.
Pitch unique and impactful story ideas daily during editorial meetings, contributing to the overall direction and quality of the newscast.
Perform dynamic and informative live shots from breaking news scenes, community events, or other remote locations, often requiring improvisation and quick thinking.
Repackage and write complementary versions of broadcast stories for the station's digital platforms, including the website and mobile app, to maximize audience reach.
Actively manage and update professional social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) to engage with the audience, promote stories, and share real-time updates from the field.
Respond urgently and safely to breaking news situations, prepared to go live or gather content at a moment's notice, any time of day or night.
Utilize news gathering software like ENPS or iNews for scriptwriting, accessing wires, and communicating with the production team.
Ensure all reporting is fair, balanced, accurate, and impartial, upholding the highest standards of journalistic integrity and ethics.
Develop and maintain a specialized "beat" (e.g., politics, education, health), becoming a subject matter expert who provides in-depth and exclusive coverage.
Collaborate effectively with news producers, assignment editors, and photographers to coordinate story elements and ensure a seamless production process.
Operate live transmission equipment (e.g., LiveU, Dejero) to send video and conduct live reports from remote locations.
Generate and file public records requests (FOIA) to obtain documents and data for investigative reports.
Appear at station-sponsored community events and engage with viewers, acting as a positive ambassador for the news organization.
Continuously monitor local and national news wires, social media, and other sources for developing stories and potential follow-ups.
Maintain all assigned equipment, including cameras, tripods, microphones, and live gear, ensuring it is in proper working order.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis for investigative projects.
Contribute to the organization's digital-first strategy and evolving multi-platform content roadmap.
Collaborate with the promotions department to create compelling teases and topicals for upcoming stories.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies if the newsroom has adopted such methodologies for project-based reporting.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Non-Linear Video Editing: Proficiency in Adobe Premiere Pro, Edius, or Final Cut Pro.
Broadcast Camera Operation: Skilled in operating professional ENG cameras and related audio/lighting equipment.
On-Air Presentation: Confident and clear delivery, with experience using a teleprompter and ad-libbing during live shots.
AP Style Writing: Mastery of AP style for broadcast and digital scripts.
Digital Content Management: Experience posting content to a CMS (e.g., WordPress) and using social media for news gathering and engagement.
Live Technology: Competency with bonded cellular live units like LiveU or Dejero.
Newsroom Software: Familiarity with systems like ENPS or iNews.
Investigative Techniques: Knowledge of public records requests (FOIA) and data research methods.
Photojournalism Fundamentals: Strong understanding of shot composition, sequencing, and visual storytelling.
Basic Graphic Creation: Ability to create simple on-screen graphics to enhance stories.

Soft Skills

Exceptional Storytelling: The ability to find the human element in any story and craft a compelling narrative.
Journalistic Ethics & Integrity: An unwavering commitment to truth, accuracy, fairness, and impartiality.
Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication; ability to build rapport with sources and colleagues.
Resilience & Composure Under Pressure: The capacity to thrive in a high-stress, deadline-driven environment and during breaking news.
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving: Ability to quickly analyze complex situations, identify key details, and make sound editorial judgments.
Inquisitiveness & Curiosity: A natural drive to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and uncover the "why."
Time Management & Organization: Ability to juggle multiple assignments and meet several deadlines simultaneously.
Adaptability & Flexibility: Willingness to work irregular hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, and to embrace new technologies.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree from an accredited four-year college or university.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor's or Master's Degree in a relevant field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Journalism / Broadcast Journalism
Communications / Media Studies
Political Science or a related liberal arts discipline

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2-5+ years of professional experience as a Multimedia Journalist (MMJ), Reporter, or Photographer in a commercial television newsroom. A professional reel demonstrating on-air skills and storytelling ability is required.

Preferred:

Experience reporting in a Top 100 media market.
Proven track record of breaking exclusive, enterprise stories.
Demonstrable experience with investigative reporting, data journalism, or a specialized beat.