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Journalist CV example

A journalist's CV shows the stories you found and how you work: your newsroom and beat, two or three stories you broke with what followed, and your NCTJ qualifications and shorthand speed. Link a few clips rather than listing everything.

This example is a local news reporter applying for a regional role.

Classic design1 page
Journalist CV example: fictional example, page 1. Full text is available below.
Read the example as text
Sam Okoro
Reporter
Sheffield · 07700 900226 · sam.okoro@example.com · linkedin.com/in/sam-okoro-example

Profile

News reporter with three years on a local daily and its website, covering council, courts and health. Breaks stories from public documents and community contacts, writes fast to deadline and films and edits short video. NCTJ Diploma with 100 words per minute shorthand. Looking for a regional news reporter role.

Experience

News Reporter | Sheffield Evening Courier | 2023–present

Cover Sheffield council, crown court and the local NHS trust, filing four to six stories a day for web and print.

Broke the story of a £2 million overspend on a tram depot from council papers; it led to an independent review.

Interview people in person, by phone and online, and check every fact and quote before filing.

Film and edit short videos for the website and social media.

Trainee Reporter | Peak District Gazette (weekly) | 2022–2023

Wrote news and features for six villages and sub-edited the community pages.

Education

NCTJ Diploma in Journalism, with shorthand at 100 wpm | Don Valley College | 2021–2022

BA (Hons) English, 2:1 | University of Hallamshire | 2018–2021

Skills

Court and council reporting

Freedom of Information requests

Shorthand, 100 wpm

Video filming and editing

Additional information

Full UK driving licence. Clips and video available on request.

Fictional example for a journalist. Every person and employer in it is invented. Replace every detail with your own.

What newsrooms look for, and where this CV shows it

The job asks you toWhere this CV shows it
Investigate stories as they break and follow up leadsThe tram depot overspend story from council papers
Research stories, check facts and interview people in person, over the phone and onlineInterviews and fact checks before every story is filed
Write up content for publication in print and onlineFour to six stories a day for web and print
Sub-edit other journalists' articles set for publicationSub-editing the community pages at the weekly paper
Attend content planning meetings and develop ideas for featuresCouncil, courts and health beat with features at the weekly

The left column follows the National Careers Service job profile for a newspaper or magazine journalist.

Facts checked against National Careers Service: Newspaper or magazine journalist on .

Inside this example
  • Profile: 50 words here
  • Experience: 103 words here
  • Education: 25 words here
  • Skills: 19 words here
  • Additional information: 10 words here

How to write yours

01

Lead with a story

One story you broke, and what happened because of it, says more than a list of duties.

02

Name your beat

Courts, council, health or sport: editors hire for the patch they need covered.

03

Give the shorthand speed

Many newsrooms ask for it; put the speed and the qualification together.

04

Link clips

Three to five links, newest first, on a page you control.

Rules and checks for a journalist's CV

  • NCTJ. Courses accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists include diplomas and shorthand courses (National Careers Service). Give the qualification and your shorthand speed.
  • Apprenticeships. You can also get in through an apprenticeship such as the Junior Journalist Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship (National Careers Service).
  • Clips. Link published work you may share; check your employer's rules before reusing their video.

Classic and one page: newsrooms read quickly, and a plain order with stories in the first bullets suits them.

Help with your next edit

CV Work Experience: Turn Duties into Evidence Awards and Achievements on a CV: What Counts and Where Action Verbs for a CV: UK Word List With Examples How to Write a UK Cover Letter: Template and Example

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