Journalist Kairīpoata Pepa

Physical Requirements

Radio and television journalists need to have clear voices.

Useful Experience

Useful experience for journalists includes:

• all types of writing experience
• radio, television or video work
• work involving interviewing people.

Personal Qualities

Journalists need to be:

• enquiring, curious, persistent and patient, with excellent communication skills
• confident and motivated
• good at relationship management
• accurate
• able to accept criticism
• good at time management
• able to work well under pressure.

Skills

Journalists need to have:

• excellent interviewing and reporting skills
• excellent writing skills
• general knowledge of local, national and international affairs
• in-depth knowledge of the area they are covering or specialising in
• research skills
• social and communication skills
• knowledge of media ethics and law
• photography and videography skills.

Conditions

Journalists:

• often work shifts, including early mornings, evenings, weekends and public holidays
• work in newsrooms and offices, and on location
• work in conditions that may be stressful due to deadlines, or distressing if reporting unpleasant events
• may need to work outside in all weather conditions
• may travel locally, nationally and internationally to cover stories.