If you’re keen to land your next gig in the newsroom, you’ll need a cracking Reporter resume that captures your nose for news and knack for storytelling.
To give you a head start, we’ve whipped up this easy-to-follow guide, chock-full of tips from the pros.
And don’t miss our Reporter resume example that’ll help your application shine brighter than a quokka’s smile.
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Reporter Resume Example
The example Reporter resume above demonstrates the ideal format and content your resume should have.
Its professional and clean layout is designed for optimal readability by busy hiring managers.
Follow our comprehensive guide to write your own effective Reporter resume.
Reporter resume structure & format
Resume structure
A well-organized resume is your ticket to job interviews.
Ensure you include these sections in your resume to impress recruiters:
- Contact details: Your name and best contact information.
- Resume summary: A brief but powerful summary of your key skills and experiences.
- Core skills: A focused list of skills relevant to Reporter jobs.
- Work experience: A detailed account of your past positions, starting with the most recent.
- Education: Your educational qualifications.
- Additional info: Optional section for extra credentials or interests that support your application.
How to format your Reporter resume
To make a strong impression, your resume format must be both professionally stylish and easy for recruiters to read quickly.
Here are our vital formatting tips to make your resume both appealing and reader-friendly.
- Resume length: Keep your resume between 1 to 2 pages long because recruiters see tons of resumes every day and only have limited time to read each one.
- Font & colour scheme: Choose a clear and easy-to-read font, steering clear of overly decorative ones that could hinder readability. Stick with a classic black-text-on-white-background for the body of the resume, but don’t shy away from adding a hint of colour elsewhere to make your resume stand out.
- Page layout: Ensure your page is divided into clear sections with bold headings or borders, as this enables readers to quickly pinpoint the information they’re interested in.
- Break text up: Break up text with concise bullet points and brief paragraphs, ensuring busy recruiters can easily absorb the info.
- Photos: Photos are not mandatory in Australia but you can add a small headshot to the top if you like.
Quick tip: Achieving a professional look for your resume can be difficult and time-consuming. If you want to create an attractive resume quickly, try our Resume Builder and use one of our eye-catching professional resume templates.
Contact Details
Ensuring that employers can identify and reach you is crucial, so while the contact details section might seem straightforward, it’s vital to perfect it.
Ensure you include these four key details prominently at the top of your resume, without taking up too much space:
- Your name and professional title: Such as IT Project Manager or Healthcare Assistant, tailored to reflect the positions you are applying for.
- Email address: Choose a professional email (e.g. hayley.j.benson@gmail.com) over one that may appear unprofessional or outdated, like crazy-hay-21@gmail.com.
- Phone number: List your mobile number to ensure you are easily contactable. Always triple-check for accuracy.
- Location: Mention the general region where you’re seeking employment, for example, Sydney, Melbourne.
Additionally, you may add these details if relevant:
- Webpage links: Link to a professional online profile such as LinkedIn or a personal portfolio, ensuring all content is professional and up-to-date.
- Photograph: Although not commonly required, a professional photograph may be beneficial if you’re in a creative industry. If included, it should be modest in size and professionally presented.
Avoid including personal information such as your date of birth, full address, or gender. These details do not assist in the hiring process and take up valuable space on your resume.
Reporter Resume Summary
The resume summary at the top of your document is a crucial, concise introduction that encapsulates your professional qualifications and readiness for the job. It sets the stage for your detailed application.
To instantly capture a recruiter’s attention and lead them into reading further into your resume, use these proven tips:
- Keep it short: Keep your resume summary succinct with 3 to 5 sentences. This allows hiring managers to grasp your key points rapidly, reserving more in-depth information for the work experience section.
- Tailor to target jobs: Fill your summary with as many keywords from the job adverts you are targeting as possible. This will ensure recruiters instantly see your suitability.
- Avoid using cliches: Resist the temptation to describe yourself as a “self-starter” or a “results-driven professional” – these clichés offer little insight into your actual capabilities.
Reporter resume summary example
What to include in your Reporter resume summary
- Summary of your experience: What kind of companies have you worked for? What types of jobs have you done? Give employers a clear picture of your experience.
- Relevant skills: Highlight your most valuable skills, focusing on job-specific skills for Reporter jobs.
- Qualifications: Include a short note about any relevant qualifications for Reporter roles to demonstrate your suitability for the position.
- Benefits of hiring you: Why should a employer hire you? Will you save them money? Improve their productivity? Or get them more customers?
Quick tip: Choose from hundreds of pre-written summaries across all industries, and add one to your resume with one-click in our Resume Builder. All written by recruitment experts and easily tailored to suit your unique skillset and style.
Core skills section
To catch the eye of recruiters, include a core skills section on your resume.
This should be a bullet-pointed list showcasing your most sought-after skills specific to Reporter roles.
Limit each skill to four words to ensure they stand out clearly to busy hiring managers.
Skills for your Reporter resume
Investigative Research – Engaging in thorough research to uncover facts, gather critical information, and provide in-depth reporting on a variety of subjects.
Interview Techniques – Applying effective questioning methods to extract valuable information and insights from sources for storytelling purposes.
Multimedia Storytelling – Crafting compelling narratives using a mix of text, images, video, and audio to enhance audience engagement across different platforms.
Shorthand Writing – Utilising shorthand to quickly take down accurate notes during interviews, speeches, or fast-paced events.
Live Reporting – Delivering clear, concise, and accurate reports in real-time, often under pressure, for live broadcasts or updates.
Editing and Proofreading – Ensuring all content is grammatically correct, factually accurate, and adheres to the publication’s style before submission or broadcast.
Video Production – Shooting, editing, and producing video content to complement written articles or standalone features for digital platforms.
Audio Editing – Recording, cutting, and editing audio clips for radio pieces, podcasts, or online audio features.
News Gathering – Staying informed of current events and breaking news to quickly respond and report on emerging stories.
Legal and Ethical Understanding – Applying knowledge of media law and journalistic ethics to report responsibly and avoid defamation, contempt, or breaches of privacy.
Quick tip: Our Resume Builder contains thousands of in-demand skills for every profession that can be added to your resume in seconds – saving you time and greatly improving your chances of landing job interviews and getting hired.
Work experience section
Your work experience section is crucial in demonstrating your value to potential employers.
Organise your past positions in reverse chronological order, emphasising your most recent 3-5 years of professional experience.
Structuring your jobs
To ensure that recruiters can understand what you’ve done within each of your jobs, structure them the following way.
Outline
Kick each job off with a 1-2 sentence overview to build context for readers, including what your team/employer does, where you sit within the company and the purpose of the job.
Key responsibilities
Use bullet points to detail the key responsibilities of your role, highlighting hard skills, software and knowledge wherever you can.
Keep them short and sharp to make them easily digestible by readers.
Key achievements
Finish each role’s section with 1-3 standout achievements that positively influenced your employer.
Use concrete metrics to illustrate these successes, whether they involve enhancing efficiency, saving costs, or driving project advancements.
Example job for Reporter resume
Outline
Research, compose, and publish news articles about AU politics, environmental issues, and social justice topics, for a renowned global news organisation.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct in-depth investigative research to uncover critical stories and provide insightful analysis on political events, environmental policies, and social justice matters.
- Write and edit news articles and features for online and print publication, adhering to deadlines.
- Source and interview key experts and eyewitnesses to gather first-hand information.
- Utilise data analysis tools and visualisations to enhance storytelling and support reporting.
Quick tip: Create impressive job descriptions easily in our Resume Builder by adding pre-written job phrases for every industry and career stage.
Education section
Your resume should feature an education section near the end.
This part should be a bullet-pointed list of your qualifications, with a focus on those that are significant for Reporter roles.
Keep it brief if you are an experienced candidate. If you’re new to the field, use this section to elaborate on the skills and knowledge you’ve obtained through your educational pursuits.
This section can include:
- University degrees
- Industry specific qualifications for Reporter jobs
- Vocational education and training (VET) diplomas
- Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (SSCE)
Additional information (optional)
At the very bottom of your resume you can add an additional info section, for anything else that might help you to look more appealing to employers.
This is often used for hobbies and interests, but can also include awards, publications or a list of technical skills.
If you are considering adding anything here, remember to only include things that are related to your work, or things which are very impressive.
Don’t add common pastime hobbies such as watching TV or socialising with friends, as they won’t make any impact.
Writing a good Reporter resume isn’t easy, but by following the steps above carefully you should be able to craft a resume which gets responses from recruiters and lands plenty of interviews.
Remember to proofread your resume once it’s finished and always tailor it slightly on every application to ensure you always look highly suitable for the job.
Good luck with your job search!