Journalists research, verify, and write stories for newspapers, magazines, broadcast outlets, and digital publishers. Day-to-day work varies wildly by beat — a political journalist might spend their day in Westminster or Capitol Hill, while a tech reporter might be interviewing startup founders and filing two stories before lunch. Most staff journalists report to a section editor or news editor and work under constant deadline pressure. Freelancers pitch to multiple outlets simultaneously. Beyond writing, the role increasingly involves SEO, social media publishing, and sometimes video production.
Alex Donovan
Investigative Journalist
📍 London, UK✉️ alex.donovan@email.com
Summary
Award-winning Journalist with 7 years of experience in investigative reporting, feature writing, and digital newsroom operations. Published in national broadsheets with expertise in business, technology, and public affairs.
Work Experience
Senior Reporter at The GuardianSep 2022 — Present
Cover technology and business stories generating average 500K page views per investigation
Broke 3 front-page exclusives in 2023 including corporate tax investigation reaching 2M+ readers
Technology Reporter at Financial TimesJul 2019 — Aug 2022
Published 200+ articles on fintech, AI, and startup ecosystem for FT.com and print edition
Built source network of 100+ contacts across tech industry and regulatory bodies
Skills
Investigative ReportingNCTJ QualifiedFeature WritingData JournalismPodcast ProductionIPSO / Media Law
What Recruiters Look For
Journalist CVs must show publication credits, readership reach, and the ability to work across multiple formats. Recruiters want to see where you have been published, your beat expertise, and any awards.
Key Skills to Include
Investigative reporting, feature writing, NCTJ qualification, shorthand, data journalism, multimedia production (video, podcast), media law, and CMS platforms.
Common Mistakes
Listing every article without showing impact. Focus on your biggest stories, their reach, and any consequences they had. Awards and exclusives should be highlighted.
Formatting Tips
One to two pages. Lead with your most prestigious publication credits. Include a Selected Works section linking to your best published pieces.
Average Salary — Journalist
United States
$48,000 – $85,000
United Kingdom
$28,000 – $55,000
Germany
$35,000 – $60,000
UAE / Dubai
$40,000 – $70,000
Canada
$42,000 – $70,000
Australia
$48,000 – $75,000
Figures in USD. Ranges reflect mid-level experience (3–7 years). Senior roles and major metro areas typically sit at the top of these bands.
Top 5 Interview Questions — Journalist
1Tell me about the best story you've broken and how you found it.
Lead with the story's impact, then explain your sourcing process. Editors want to see investigative instinct — how you identified the story, verified it, and got it published ahead of the competition.
2How do you verify information when a source gives you something you can't independently confirm?
Walk through your verification process: seeking a second independent source, checking documents, putting claims to the subject for comment, and deciding what you can and can't responsibly publish.
3How do you approach covering a sensitive story involving vulnerable people?
Show you understand IPSO or SPJ ethical guidelines, the concept of informed consent, and how to report in a way that doesn't cause unnecessary harm while still serving the public interest.
4What's your approach to writing a news story quickly under deadline?
Describe your process: inverted pyramid structure, leading with the strongest fact, getting quotes early, and knowing when a story is good enough to file vs. when more reporting is needed.
5Tell me about a time you had to push back on editorial direction you disagreed with.
Show that you can advocate for your reporting professionally and know when to accept editorial decisions. This tests your editorial judgment and your ability to work within a team.
How to Tailor Your CV
The Guardian, Reuters, Bloomberg, and the BBC are the most competitive employers in English-language journalism. Bloomberg and Reuters prioritise speed, accuracy, and wire-style writing — they want to see you've hit deadlines under pressure and can write concisely without sacrificing accuracy. The Guardian and BBC value original reporting, source development, and editorial independence.