Journalists

(NOC 5123)

in All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

Journalists research, investigate, interpret, and communicate news and public affairs through newspapers, television, radio, and other media. They may specialize in print or non-print media, in a geographic area, or issues like political affairs or entertainment news. Journalists work for radio and television networks and stations, newspapers and magazines and may also work on a freelance basis.

Job Outlook

Average

Estimate Weak growth employment change, 2021-2023
Estimate 25 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
Estimate Moderate rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

Estimate 840 employment change, 2021-2023
Estimate 1495 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$18.26

Minimum

$29.53

Median

$45.61

Maximum

Annual Pay

$1,597

Minimum

$36,399

Median

$78,784

Maximum

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

Hourly Pay

$13.00

Minimum

$21.00

Median

$40.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$945

Minimum

$11,712

Median

$60,447

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Job duties

Journalists:

Collect local, national, and international news through interviews, investigation, and observation.
Write news stories for publication and broadcast.
Receive, analyze, and verify news and other copy for accuracy.
Arrange for and conduct interviews as part of research and for radio and television programs.
Research and report on developments in specialized fields like medicine, science, and technology.
Prepare regular feature columns and stories on specialized topics.
Write editorials and commentaries on topics of current interest to stimulate public interest and express the views of a publication or broadcasting station.
Write critical reviews of literary, musical, and other artistic works based on knowledge, judgement, and experience.

Sample job titles

broadcast journalist
columnist
commentator
critic
investigative reporter
journalist
news correspondent
newspaper editorial writer
reporter
television news anchorperson

Skills

Journalists should be organized, resourceful, and creative. A critical mind, excellent writing ability, and language skills are also necessary. Keyboarding and word processing skills are a definite asset. Knowledge of French is strongly recommended.

Job requirements

A university degree or college diploma in journalism or a related field like communications is usually required.

Other considerations

Some people in these jobs work irregular hours, including evenings and weekends. Experienced reporters may advance to editorial positions (print media) or become producers (broadcast media).

By the numbers

Quick look

350

employed in 2016

68.6%

employed full-time

24.3%

self employed

47.1%

52.9%

39.6

median age

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

11,000

employed in 2016

53.3%

employed full-time

29.3%

self employed

55.6%

44.4%

38.2

median age

Where will I likely work?

61.4%

Halifax

$46,395 median annual income

11.4%

Southern

N/A

11.4%

Cape Breton

$29,582 median annual income

8.6%

North Shore

N/A

7.1%

Annapolis Valley

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

70.7%

Information and cultural industries

13.8%

Arts, entertainment and recreation

5.2%

Professional, scientific and technical services

3.4%

Educational services

3.4%

Manufacturing

What is the age of Employment?

31.0%

25-34

26.0%

35-44

17.0%

45-54

13.0%

55-64

7.0%

65+

6.0%

15-24

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

29.7%

15-24

15.9%

35-44

15.7%

45-54

15.4%

25-34

14.9%

55-64

Top levels of education

54.3%

Bachelor

$36,393 median annual income

17.1%

Master

$57,981 median annual income

11.4%

College Diploma

$41,637 median annual income

10.0%

High school

N/A

7.1%

Diploma Above Bachelor

N/A

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

26.4%

Bachelor

$17,829 median annual income

24.9%

High school

$7,552 median annual income

19.5%

College Diploma

$22,120 median annual income

13.7%

Less than high school

$2,922 median annual income

7.9%

Master

$36,173 median annual income

Education & training

Broadcast Journalism

College or University Program

These programs focus on the methods and techniques for reporting, producing, and delivering news and news programs via radio, television, and video/film media and prepares students to be professional broadcast journalists, editors, producers, directors, and managers. They include courses in the principles of broadcast technology, broadcast reporting, on- and off-camera and microphone procedures and techniques, program, sound, and video/film editing, program design and production, media law and policy, and professional standards and ethics.

Institutions providing this program

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Website

Communications and Media Studies

College or University Program

These programs focus on the study of communications mass communication/media studies, old and new media technologies, social and political applications, and speech communication and rhetoric. They include courses in interpersonal, group, organizational, and intercultural communication, theories of communication, critical thinking, argumentation, and persuasion, written communication, print, electronic, and digital media, rhetorical tradition and criticism, media, society, and culture, consequences and effects of mass media, media social science and criticism, and quantitative and qualitative methods of inquiry.

Institutions providing this program

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

admissions@msvu.ca

Website

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Website

Journalism

College or University Program

These programs focus on the theory and practice of gathering, processing, and delivering news and that prepares students to be professional print journalists, news editors, and news managers. They include courses in news writing and editing, reporting, photojournalism, layout and graphic design, journalism law and policy, professional standards and ethics, research methods, and journalism history and criticism.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

admissions@dal.ca

Website

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

admissions@ukings.ca

Website

Radio and Television

College or University Program

These programs focus on the theories, methods, and techniques used to plan, produce, and distribute audio and video programs and messages and prepares students to function as staff, producers, directors, and managers of radio and television shows and media organizations. They include courses in media aesthetics, planning, scheduling, and production, writing and editing, performing and directing, personnel and facilities management, marketing and distribution, media regulations, law, and policy, and principles of broadcast technology.

Institutions providing this program

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Website

Technical and Scientific Communication

College or University Program

These programs focus on communicating technical and scientific knowledge to a variety of audiences through print, video, and digital media and prepares students to function as technical writers and editors, documentation developers, web designers, and usability specialists. They include courses in scientific and technical writing and editing, graphic and information design, web design, audience analysis, document usability and field testing, publications management, and applications to specific technical fields.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

admissions@dal.ca

Website

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

admissions@msvu.ca

Website