newspaper writer job

How to Post a Job Ad in the Newspaper

While many job seekers are turning to the Internet to look for jobs, many others are still sorting through the classified ads section of the newspaper. Therefore, it’s critical you don’t overlook this opportunity to attract top talent. These guidelines will help you post a job ad in the newspaper.

When creating newspaper ads for jobs, you’re going to be looking at the price per word but also how much it costs for the space the job ad takes up. Therefore, it’s critical you think about how much information you’d like to include in the job ad and if you want there to be a company logo featured. Because job ads in newspapers can become costly, especially if you’re running ads in multiple papers, many companies opt to post job ads for free online.

Think About the Content

What do you want the ad to say? Remember, you’re working with limited space. Therefore, if you’re targeting those who live in your region, consider local job ads where you can trim down the number of words you’re using contextually. The goal is attracting top talent, so wasting content with where the job is located isn’t optimal when posting a newspaper job ad. Instead, focus on the benefits of the job, qualifications and how to get in touch.

Consider posting more than one job ad in the newspaper similarly to how you would post online job ads. For example, if you’re hiring for multiple types of positions, one job ad may not suffice. When you tailor job ads so they target your potential lead, you’ll have more success landing top talent. In addition to listing these job ads in the newspaper, you’ll benefit from posting free job ads online as a means of attracting additional candidates for the position.

Are Your Titles Speaking to Candidates?

In addition to having quality content in the newspaper job ad, the title needs to be compelling. When these job candidates are scanning through newspaper job ads, the title is the first thing they’re going to see. If it doesn’t pique their interest, they’re not going to stop on your job listing. The same thing happens on free job ad posting sites, so it’s critical for you to develop compelling titles for your job ads.

About Posting Your Job Ad

Posting the job ad is a straightforward process. When visiting the newspaper’s website, you should see a link that says, “For Employers,” or something similar. Click that and you’ll be asked to either sign up or complete a registration. Upon doing so, you’ll be led to a link whereby you can create your job ad. There, you’ll see fields for the job’s title, the body for the content and qualifications. Expect several days for the ad to review and post.

Don’t Forget About Listing Experience

Posting work wanted ads includes much more than explaining what the job entails. You must also describe what work experience the job seeker must have. For example, if you require a college degree, the post job ad must include this information. Otherwise, you’ll receive candidate resumes that won’t meet the level of experience for which you’re seeking. Not only is this a waste of your time but it’s a waste of money and company resources.

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How to Find Job Postings Online

The internet is one of the greatest technological advancements in job searching. Just 20 years ago finding jobs had to be done at job fairs or by reading newspapers. Now, logging on and checking out job postings is the new norm. With the internet, not only can you find a job but you can find the career of your dreams. By doing the job search right, you can have years of happy and fulfilling employment.

Job posting sites are currently the most popular way to apply for jobs online. With these websites, finding and applying for jobs you are interested in is very easy. On most sites you can sort by city, salary and qualifications. Once you find jobs you qualify for you can send your resume and apply in the click of a button. However, this is a downside to job posting sites. Because of the ease of use, many employers get hundreds of applications for a single position. While you may be the one they pick, it’s important to explore other jobs through other means to get employed as soon as possible.

Classified Ad Sites

Classified ads are one of the original places to find jobs online and they are still going strong. Most of the times classified ads are posted directly from employers who are seeking someone quickly. This is great for you as the whole process of being interviewed and employed will most likely be very fast. There is also a more personal touch on these sites and there aren’t as many applicants as on job posting sites. Be sure to remember that the first message or email you send is important, as first impressions count. There are many classified ad websites out there to check when in the market for a job.

Social Media

Social media is one of the most interesting ways to find a job using the internet. Thanks to these platforms, you can find out if a page or business you like has a job opening.

On professional social networking websites you can use your connections to find out about job openings before anyone else. So if you’re in the market for a job, getting in touch with your professional connections can lead to a new job even if nothing is advertised yet. Always check with your connections first, as not only will you have a personal reference to get a foot in the door, but you will hardly have any competition as the position might not even been advertised yet.

Company Websites

If there is a specific company you want to work for, be sure to check out their official website. Many times these companies will have a ‘Jobs’ or ‘Careers’ link at the very bottom of the site. Check it out to see if there are any jobs you’re interested in. These jobs are usually competitive but have fewer applicants. Many employers also appreciate applying directly on the website as opposed to a job board. To apply always include a cover letter and your resume so you can get a chance for an interview.

Online Newspapers

While newspapers are becoming a thing of the past, many papers have online sections that allow employers to post jobs. Newspapers have always been the means of finding jobs until the internet came around and many employers still prefer this method. The reason they do this is to get a better chance at finding someone local and who may be familiar with their business. Due to the decreased popularity, these jobs have few applicants which increases your chances at getting employed. However, only few employers still do these ads, so you may not have as many options, but it’s still important to consider.

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Newspaper journalist

To succeed as a journalist on a local or national newspaper you'll need determination and the ability to research and write accurate stories to tight deadlines

Newspaper journalists research and write stories for national, regional and local press. They report on news and politics, as well as on sports, arts and culture, science and business. They also cover national and local events, entertainment and human interest stories.

There are a number of roles within newspaper journalism. Junior reporters usually write up stories allocated to them by the news desk, which they then pass to the news editor before they're handed to sub-editors. Correspondents are specialists in one field or location, while feature writers, who cover topics in greater depth, often use a more personal style.

On smaller newspapers journalists have to multitask. They may work on layout, photography and sub-editing, as well as write stories.

Newspaper journalism is becoming increasingly multi-platform, making IT, web and broadcast skills highly valuable.

Responsibilities

As a newspaper journalist, your duties will include:

• interviewing people in a range of different circumstances
• building contacts in many areas to maintain a flow of news, such as with the police and emergency services, local council, community groups, health trusts, press officers from a variety of organisations and the general public
• seeking out and investigating stories via your contacts, press releases and other media
• attending press conferences and asking questions
• attending a range of events, such as council meetings, magistrates' court proceedings, football matches, talent contests, etc
• answering the phones on the news desk and reacting to breaking news stories
• working closely with the news team, photographers and editors
• recording interviews and meetings using shorthand or technical equipment
• producing concise and accurate copy according to the newspaper's house style and to strict deadlines - daily newspapers may have several each day
• writing shorter, 'filler' stories to entertain, and researching and writing longer feature articles, sometimes for subsidiary publications and supplements
• creating and uploading news content for the newspaper website
• 'live' online reporting or real-time blogging when covering important events - a growing area of work, especially on national newspapers.
• In the sector, reporters working in newspapers and magazines have the lowest average salaries. When you're starting out as a trainee reporter, your salary could be as low as £12,000 to £15,000, depending on whether you're working for a local, regional or national paper.
• Although there's wide variation between regional and national newspapers, salaries for journalists with up to five years' experience generally rise to around £25,000, while those with a decade's experience or more can expect around £35,000 to £40,000.

Your salary could be higher if you're working for a national newspaper. Share options and bonuses, reflecting the paper's performance, may bolster salaries at senior editor level.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Journalists quite frequently work long or unsocial hours. Early in your career, you're likely to work an early or late shift pattern. You need to be flexible to accommodate for breaking news and deadlines.

What to expect

• Offices are usually open plan and may be noisy. Although you will spend much of your time working on a computer and on the phone, the work will also involve some travelling to meet people or to cover events, often at short notice.
• Many journalists spend part, or all, of their career working on a freelance basis. Demand for experienced freelancers is high, especially for feature writing. Young journalists often work freelance to build up experience and contacts; some retired journalists continue to work on a freelance basis. The NUJ issues a guide to freelance rates in its NUJ Freelance Fees Guide .
• Career breaks are possible.
• The NUJ reports a 60/40 male to female gender split in its membership. Women are underrepresented, although increasingly present at senior level.
• The profession is predominantly white, but efforts are being made to recruit from ethnic minority backgrounds, with initiatives such as the Journalism Diversity Fund .
• Opportunities with regional newspapers exist throughout the UK. Geographical mobility is important, especially at the beginning of a journalism career.
• The role can be stressful. Competition between rival publications - and hence their reporters - can be fierce, and you may often need to put awkward or unwanted questions to people who do not wish to answer.
• Because of the need to sometimes work long and unpredictable hours, anything up to 50 to 60 hours per week, journalists' social and working lives may become intertwined.
• Journalists often travel within a working day, although absence from home overnight is rarely required.
• There may be opportunities to work abroad.

Qualifications

This area of work is open to graduates of any discipline but an undergraduate degree in journalism, English or writing may improve your chances. However, some editors may be more interested in graduates with a specialist degree subject, such as economics or science.

Experience and personal qualities are also considered extremely important.

Entry without a degree, HND or foundation degree is possible but is becoming increasingly difficult. The majority of new entrants to the newspaper journalism industry are graduates.

Graduates can choose from several pre-entry routes into newspaper journalism. There are full-time, one-year postgraduate courses, which result in a postgraduate diploma or Masters degree. There are also fast-track, 18 to 20-week postgraduate courses. Students should check that their courses will be well regarded by potential employers.

Courses accredited by the NCTJ are generally highly regarded and will usually include your preliminary NCTJ examinations. The NCTJ's Diploma in Journalism reflects the multimedia environment of modern journalism and includes mandatory modules on reporting, essential public affairs and media law. Students must also study at least four elective modules which include sports journalism, photography, magazines and broadcast journalism.

You must pass the Diploma in Journalism in order to sit the professional senior qualification which demonstrates all-round competence in a range of journalistic skills, which you'd take once you'd been in relevant employment for 18 months. This is either the National Certificate Examination (NCE) or the National Qualification in Journalism (NQJ), depending on your specialism.

Entry with an HND or foundation degree is possible if you have relevant skills and experience. Some foundation degrees in journalism are recognised by the NCTJ, including the 17-week foundation course in journalism from PA Training .

You can be recruited directly by employers on to a two-year training contract, although these opportunities are increasingly rare.

Competition for the limited graduate trainee places with large newspaper groups and national newspapers is extremely fierce. Programmes vary from year to year and details may not be widely circulated, as editors rely on candidates to take the initiative to research opportunities.

Entry with a postgraduate degree is possible, especially if it's an NCTJ-accredited qualification or includes relevant work experience. Postgraduate students from subjects not related to journalism will still have to gain experience and writing skills and may need to consider a relevant pre-entry course in journalism. Search postgraduate courses in journalism .

Initiatives such as the NUJ's George Viner Memorial Fund aim to support black and Asian students through training. The Journalism Diversity Fund supports the training of journalists from ethnically and socially diverse backgrounds onto NCTJ-accredited courses.

The Scott Trust Bursary Scheme , offered by The Guardian Media Group, provides a limited number of bursaries to postgraduate students each year.

You'll need to show:

• strong written and oral communication skills
• a keen interest in news, current affairs, business and people
• accurate spelling, grammar and punctuation
• good organisation skills and the ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines
• an ability to grasp complex issues quickly and explain them in simple, concise language
• resilience, determination, flexibility, persistence, motivation and integrity.

Work experience

To start your career in journalism, you'll need a good record of relevant work experience accompanied by a professional file of cuttings (samples of your published writing). Take every opportunity to write articles and reviews for local, free, national or specialist publications, especially if you get a byline (your name above the story). Get involved in student newspapers and try to build up a network of sources.

While you're a student, join organisations for information and networking opportunities, such as the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) or the Chartered Institute of Journalists (CIoJ).

For work experience opportunities keep an eye on publications and websites such as:

• The Guardian - Media
• Press Gazette

PA Media also offers work experience.

Contact local newspapers and ask for work experience. A list of local newspapers can be found via the News Media Association . June and July are the busiest times to find work experience, so be proactive and try approaching publications at other times of the year. Don't despair at rejections - editors appreciate and respect persistence and the desire to succeed.

UK newspapers provide a significant employment market for journalists. Many titles are owned by large newspaper groups at international, national or regional level, such as:

• DMGT (Daily Mail and General Trust Plc)
• Guardian Media Group
• Telegraph Media Group

Independent press agencies, also known as news wires, supply general interest or specialist news, features or pictures to news media. There are several leading press agencies, including:

• AFP (Agence France Presse) (based in Paris)
• Associated Press (based in New York)
• PA Media (based in London)
• Reuters (based in London)
• United Press International (based in Washington D.C.).

Also see the National Association of Press Agencies .

Print titles are currently struggling and, in reaction, many newspapers are turning their attention to the growth of online journalism, where news is uploaded as it happens.

The media and internet and marketing, advertising and PR sectors may provide useful employer information.

Look for job vacancies at:

• Guardian Jobs
• Hold the Front Page
• Jobs4Journalists
• Journalism.co.uk
• media.info - directory of media brands available online
• News Media Association - lists groups with in-company training schemes

Jobs may be advertised via the head office of a regional group or by individual newspapers. Some newspapers rely solely on speculative applications to the editor and never advertise vacancies.

Get more tips on how to find a job , create a successful CV and cover letter , and prepare for interviews .

Professional development

After an initial probationary period, many trainee reporters follow basic journalism training under the terms of a training contract, usually lasting up to 18 months.

All trainee journalists must pass preliminary examinations to be eligible to sit the NCTJ National Certificate Examination (NCE) or the National Qualification in Journalism (NQJ), depending on your specialism. These are the professional qualifications for senior newspaper journalists.

Trainees with large newspaper groups and national newspapers may also receive structured training in reporting, writing, proofreading, sub-editing, layout and design and production.

Smaller newspapers may not be able to provide training opportunities in these areas to the same extent.

Courses run by the NCTJ are recognised in the industry and can lead to a variety of further qualifications, including NVQ/SVQs.

The National Union of Journalists' NUJ Training also offers a range of training courses.

Career prospects

Most journalists start on local or regional newspapers. After a few years as a general reporter, many people move on to become senior or chief reporters, or specialist writers of some kind, such as regional or topic-specific correspondents, or feature writers.

Other career options include moving into news management by joining the news desk, moving into production or working on page layout and headlines as a sub-editor .

It may also be possible to move overseas as a foreign correspondent, where knowledge of the language and culture is essential.

Career development depends on your performance and initiative. The skills learned on a local or regional newspaper, or through a training scheme, are relevant to reporting in all media and there is more movement from newspapers to other types of journalism than vice versa.

Learning extra skills that enable multitasking, such as video skills or web design, can be a good way to progress in your career.

Many senior journalists and correspondents work freelance across print, broadcast and online journalism. Both radio and television offer newspaper journalists off-screen opportunities as researchers, writers and production assistants on the reporting or editing side of news programmes. Web publishing, in the forms of blogs or uploading news to the web as it happens, instead of waiting for daily or weekly paper deadlines, is increasingly important to UK newspapers.

Employees in news agencies can sometimes enter directly as trainees, but it's more common to start in newspapers and then move to agency work. Working for an agency can provide experience in a range of different media, as agency reporters may provide tapes for local radio, features for magazines and news items for national daily newspapers and digital media providers.

Because of the range of work available, this can be a good stepping stone to freelance work. Agency work tends to suit more experienced reporters, who have already built up an extensive list of contacts and are able to fight their corner to find the exclusive angle that will make a publication want to buy their story.

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• Home: Explore careers

Newspaper journalist

Alternative titles for this job include reporter, press officer.

Newspaper journalists investigate and write up stories for local, regional and national newspapers.

Average salary (a year)

£14,000 Starter

£50,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

37 to 39 variable

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays flexibly

How to become

How to become a newspaper journalist.

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role
• specialist courses run by professional bodies

You may find it useful to have a degree in a subject like journalism or English. This will help you develop the skills you'll need as a journalist.

You could also do a postgraduate course in journalism. Some of these are accredited by the Professional Publishers Association .

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
• a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• student finance for fees and living costs
• university courses and entry requirements

You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge you need in this job. Relevant qualifications include Level 3 Diploma in Journalism or Level 3 Diploma in Multimedia Journalism.

Some colleges offer the Level 3 Certificate in Foundation Journalism and courses in Shorthand , accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ).

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
• funding advice
• search for courses

Apprenticeship

Higher apprenticeships relevant to this role include:

• Level 5 journalist
• Level 7 senior journalist

Employers will set their own entry requirements.

• guide to apprenticeships

You could start as an office assistant or trainee reporter on a local or regional newspaper.

You'll need a minimum of five GCSE grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English, or equivalent qualifications. Many recruits have A levels or degree level qualifications.

Volunteering

Competition for jobs is strong, and you'll need to show you've got writing experience. You'll find it useful to have examples of your published work in a portfolio, especially if these include your name as the author.

To build up your experience you can:

• volunteer for student and community newspapers
• write your own blog and have an online presence on social media
• submit articles and reviews to local papers or websites

Other Routes

You can study a range of professional qualifications in journalism, accredited by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). These are available either online or part-time at a training centre.

If you have a degree, you may be able to do a Fast Track NCTJ Diploma in Journalism course offered by National Council for the Training of Journalists .

Career tips

The NCTJ is working to promote diversity in journalism through its Diversity Fund for eligible journalism students.

Professional and industry bodies

As a journalism student you can apply for student membership of the National Union of Journalists .

Further information

You can find out more about working in journalism from the National Union of Journalists .

What it takes

Skills and knowledge.

You'll need:

• knowledge of English language
• knowledge of media production and communication
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• excellent written communication skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• ambition and a desire to succeed
• persistence and determination
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

What you’ll do

What you'll do, day-to-day tasks.

• investigate a story as soon as it breaks
• follow up potential leads and develop new contacts
• interview people face-to-face and over the phone
• attend press conferences
• record meetings and interviews using recording equipment or shorthand
• research and come up with ideas for stories and features
• write up articles in a style that will appeal to the reader
• sub-edit other reporters' articles for publication online and in print
• gather and edit content produced by the newspaper's users

Working environment

You could work in an office or visit sites.

Your working environment may be emotionally demanding and you'll travel often.

Career path and progression

You could take further training and work towards senior journalist roles with more responsibility.

With experience, you could become a chief reporter or a specialist writer, covering areas like politics, business or particular regions of the country. You could move to a national newspaper or work as a critic.

You could move into other areas such as magazine, broadcast or online journalism. Or you could work in a press office or public relations.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships in england, journalist apprentice.

• Wage: £10,296.00 Annually
• Location: Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

Journalist Apprentice – S&P Global Market Reporter (Level 5)

• Wage: £25,000.00 Annually
• Location: Ropemaker Street, London

Courses In England

Nctj l3 cert in journalism.

• Provider: PRIESTLEY COLLEGE
• Start date: 06 September 2024
• Location: Warrington

NCTJ Diploma in Journalism (18 months - February)

• Provider: CITY OF PORTSMOUTH COLLEGE
• Start date: 09 September 2024
• Location: Portsmouth

Jobs In the United Kingdom

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• Magazine journalist
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