Journalism Resume Examples [+Journalist CV Template]

Journalism Resume Examples [+Journalist CV Template] Youve got a mean pen, fast fingers, and a voice as smooth as butter. Theres no topic or event that you cant cover. Youve got your eyes on that dream journalism job.The thing is, so do thousands of other candidates just as confident as you.And with hiring managers spending less time than a stop set on your resume, what can you do to not get overlooked like a tiny news snippet?An impressive journalism resume. Im talking Anderson Cooper impressive.The great thing is that its not as hard as you may think. Just write a journalism resume as great as the one below:Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. Its fast and easy to use. Plus, youll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.Sample Journalism ResumeSee more templates and create your resume here.One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stu ff.Create your resume nowCheck out our other articles centered around media:Public Relations ResumeFreelance Writer ResumeWriter ResumeArt Director ResumeProduction Assistant ResumeBest Resume ExamplesJournalism Resume ExampleVirginia R. Edsonvirginiazety.edson@gmail.com716-343-3748Professional SummaryCreative and driven journalist with 5+ years of experience. Great storytelling skills and a nose for the truth as well as an excellent track record as a staff reporter in print and digital media with circulation about 250K. Seeking to leverage skills and experience to contribute to high quality journalism atThe New Yorker.Work ExperienceWriter/EditorAssociation for Talent DevelopmentDec 2016- Dec 2019Worked with the reporting team to develop stories on a daily basis and in a 24/7 environment.Pitched story ideas for trending topics and created news series where applicable.Maintained very high quality of outgoing news in both written and digital format.Assisted in managing social media a ccounts as well as company website.Key achievementIntroduced a new website layout that rose subscription rates by 15%.Morning News AnchorBlooomsfield Broadcast GroupSept 2015-Dec 2016Wrote and edited stories to be featured on air at 6, 7, and 9 am newscasts.Conducted 15+ interviews live including city government officials.Engaged with the community as station representative at local charity functions and galas.Covered a variety of topics in hard news as well as health and wellbeing.News ReporterBloomsfield Broadcast GroupJuly 2014-Sept 2015Provided compelling coverage or both anticipated and breaking news.Wrote and delivered high quality articles and TV coverage under very tight deadlines and in high stress situations.Covered an array of topics with specialization in city/local government, legal, and environmental issues.Key AchievementEarned four commendations from Editor-in-Chief for excellence in journalism.Education2011-2014, B.A. in JournalismUniversity of MontanaEditor-in-Chie f of university newsletterWinner of state journalism contest for student with article Why Higher Education is the Only Thing Millennials Arent Accused of KillingSkillsWriting and researchSocial media and website managementPublic speakingNetworkingAbility to work under pressureLeadership skillsNews writingColumn writingAdobe InCopyAdobe InDesignActivitiesRun a blog called Green Now that focuses on the environmental impact of proposed local and federal legislation.This is how to write a job-winning journalism resume:1. Use the Best Format for Your Journalism ResumeJournalists are the worlds storytellers, reporting on everything that goes on around us from politics to sports to social issues to entertainment. You name it, a journalist can write about it.The purpose of your journalism resume is to show that you have the skills and experience it takes to bring people the news they want.But journalism is a wide field. And that means a lot of competition.To top it off, you have less time t han it takes to display poll numbers to impress the recruiter with your resume.To get the recruiter hooked on what you have to say, you need to follow these resume formatting rules:Get your resume contact information right from the get go. Dont forget to check your social media footprint and optimize your LinkedIn profile to be nothing but truthful.Out of all resume styles, the best format for journalists is the chronological layout. This is the layout that puts your professional experience at the forefront and one that most hiring managers recognize. Its also a super ATS friendly resume format.Use a resume font that is legible and modern. Dont forget to leave plenty of white space on the page to make your text really stand out.Save your journalism resume in PDF to make sure that your resume layout doesnt open up all messy.At this point you might also be wondering how long your resume should be. If you have several years in journalism under your belt, go for two pages. Otherwise, on e-page resume template should do the trick.OK, so lets do a fact check, section by section.2. Write a Journalism Resume Objective or Resume SummaryIntroduce yourself through your resume profile, or more specifically, a resume objective or summary.Its a short and sweet paragraph at the top of your journalist resume that lays down the groundwork of why youre the person for the job. Think of it as the attention-grabbing headline of your application.Use a career summary if youve been learning the journalism ropes for more than a couple of years:First jot down the key points in your experience and journalism skills as well as accomplishments.Then choose 3-4 leads and add those into your journalist resume summary section.If youre an entry level journalist or writing a journalism internship resume, opt for the career objective:Underline the knowledge and skills youve gathered to date and how well youd fit in.Think of transferable skills and quantifiable achievements from other gigs youve h ad.Theres no need to drown this section in a ton of information. Keep it 3-4 sentences long max and tailor it to the job description of the position youre applying for.Use resume keywords to pass the ATS scan. Check: What are Resume Keywords?3. Create the Perfect Journalism Resume Job DescriptionPlain and simple, your resume experience section needs to be shouting Extra! Extra! Read all about it!:List your most current position and then just go back in time with previous positions.Make sure each entry includes: job titles, company name, dates of employment, and no more than 6 bullet points.Limit the number of bullet points as you go back in time with your experience. Have up to 3 for positions far in the past.Start each bullet point with an action verb.This isnt the place for happy talk. Focus on quantifiable achievements and not just a laundry list of duties.Tailor your journalism experience section to match the position youre gunning for.Its a little like stackingtheres no room fo r irrelevant info here.4. Make Your Journalism Resume Education Section ShineWho cares about your education? Well, actually a lot of people do and it could make or break your chances of getting to the cutting room floor.Heres how to nail your education section:If you have several years of job experience opt for only listing the following: college/university name and location, years you studied, degree, major and minors.Have limited experience? Sprinkle your education resume section with achievements from your college days. Make sure to keep them relevant to the job description and list no more than 4-6 items.If youre a graduate hot off the presses, consider putting your work experience below your education section. Itll help you start off your resume with no experience with a bang.Studied abroad? Check how to put it on your journalist resume: Studying Abroad on a Resume5. Highlight Your Journalism SkillsThis is where you go tight on the media skills that make you an excellent journa list so you need to get it right:Create a master list of all the job skills you have this means soft skills and hard skills, technical skills, and any other relevant skills youve got in your pocket.Pick the journalist skills that are most relevant by using the job ad as a guide. Include them in your journalist resume. Get extra brownie points if you can mention skills that your education and experience sections can prove.Journalism Resume SkillsEthics IntegrityShorthandBasic codingNewsgatheringEditing skillsStorytellingInterpersonal skillsWriting skillsOrganizational skillsDecision-making skillsProblem-solving skillsTime management skillsCommunication skillsWhen making a resume in our builder, drag drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your resume here.Create my resume nowWhen youre done, Zetys resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.6. Add Extra Sections to Your Journalist ResumeThe hiring manager may be tuning in, but youre not out of the woods just yet. Show them that youre the candidate to watch. Think of this resume section as a kicker and make sure its exactly that.Include language skills. In a growing and globalized world, theyre essential to be a top journalist.Include volunteering, achievements and awards, projects, and even hobbies and interests if theyre relevant. With a wide array of knowledge and skills needed to be an excellent journalist, you never know what might end up playing in your favor.Pro Tip: The internet really makes things easier than back in the day. There are tons of opportunities to rack up exp points by blogging or submitting articles to platforms such as Medium or HubPages. Showing up for an entry-level position with nothing at all in your journalism portfolio makes you dead in the water before you even get your swimsuit on.7. Attach a Cover Letter to Your Journalism ResumeIf youre thinking if you should include a cover letter, the n lets make it super clearyes, you do.Write the best journalism cover letter this side of Rupert Murdoch with the following tips:Use a sleek, modern cover letter format.Use a hook to start your cover letter right.Show that your experience and job skills translate into exactly what they need.Use a call to action to end your cover letter.Its easy to, but dont go overboard and write a novel. The ideal length of an effective cover letter should have a TRT of 1-2 pages.Read more: Journalism Cover Letter ExamplePlus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here.Here's what it may look like:See more cover letter templates and start writing.And once you have all that sent, remember to follow up on your job application! If youre going to sit there and wait for things to happen then how will they believe you have what it takes to find and report breaking news?!Thats the rundown of a successful journalism resume.Thanks for reading. Have any insider tips or tricks to share about creating the perfect journalism resume? Share them in the comments below!