Television Journalists
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Television Journalists collect and analyse facts about newsworthy events by interview, investigation and observation and write stories for television news or current affairs programs.
Tasks
-
Collects and analyses facts about newsworthy events from interviews, printed matter, investigations and observations.
-
Writes news reports, commentaries, articles and feature stories for television on topics of public interest.
Characteristics
-
University
-
Informal or on-the-job
-
Analytical
-
Creative
-
Enterprising
-
Sedentary
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. Employment projections data are only produced for occupations at the broad four digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level. While data are not available for this occupation, projections data are available for the parent occupation, Journalists and Other Writers, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
-
Around 84% of people employed as Television Journalists work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 18 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 47 hours per week in their main job. This is 3 hours more than the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
Sources:Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average.
Industries
Main industries
-
Most Television Journalists work in the Information media and telecommunications industry.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Television Journalists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 48.3 | 31.6 |
VIC | 15.1 | 25.6 |
QLD | 15.7 | 20.0 |
SA | 7.9 | 7.0 |
WA | 8.3 | 10.8 |
TAS | 1.3 | 2.0 |
NT | 1.1 | 1.0 |
ACT | 2.3 | 1.9 |
-
Around 79% of Television Journalists live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
New South Wales has a large share of employment relative to its population size.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
- Sydney - Eastern Suburbs
- Sydney - North Sydney and Hornsby
- Sydney - City and Inner South
- Melbourne - Inner
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Worker profile
Age and gender
-
The median age of Television Journalists is 32 years. This is younger than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.
Females make up 54% of the workforce. This is 6 percentage points above the all jobs average of 48%.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile (% Share)
Age Bracket | Television Journalists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.0 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 14.2 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 43.0 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 17.5 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 14.9 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 4.7 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 2.5 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 3.1 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 32 | 40 |
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Employment Pathways
Education, training and experience
A bachelor degree in journalism, followed by a one-year cadetship involving on-the-job training, is usually needed to work as a Television Journalist.
Visit
- Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
- ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Creative Arts and Culture VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Television Journalists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 11.0 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 67.3 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 2.8 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 0.6 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 17.1 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 0.3 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 0.9 | 12.5 |
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Skills and Knowledge
Employers look for Journalists and Writers who are literate and can interact well with others.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
-
68%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
-
64%
SpeakingTalking to others.
-
59%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
-
59%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
-
57%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
-
57%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
-
54%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
-
52%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
50%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
-
48%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
48%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
-
45%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
-
45%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
-
43%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
-
36%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
-
36%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
-
29%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
-
29%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
-
29%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
-
27%
Operations analysisUnderstanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
79%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
79%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
-
62%
GeographyDescribing land, sea, and air, including their physical characteristics, locations, how they work together, and the location of plant, animal, and human life.
-
54%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
-
53%
History and archeologyEvents of the past, their causes, how we learn about them, and how they influence the way we live today.
-
51%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
49%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
48%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
47%
Philosophy and theologyPhilosophical systems and religions, including their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and impact on society.
-
45%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
44%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
40%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
40%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
40%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
-
35%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
34%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
-
34%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
-
29%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
-
29%
Foreign languageForeign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
-
23%
Fine artsCompose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
-
64%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
-
63%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
-
61%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
-
61%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
-
57%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
-
57%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
57%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
-
57%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
-
55%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
-
55%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
54%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
-
54%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
50%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
-
43%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
-
43%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
-
39%
MemorizationRemember things like words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
-
39%
Speed of recognitionQuickly make sense of and organize things you can see like letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
-
34%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
-
34%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
-
32%
MultitaskingDo two or more things at the same time.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
84%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
77%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
75%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
69%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
65%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
-
64%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
62%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
61%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
60%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
-
59%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
-
58%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
-
56%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
-
51%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
49%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
47%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
-
45%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
41%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
41%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
-
40%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
-
40%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
Interests and demands
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
-
90%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
-
62%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
57%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
43%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
38%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
-
24%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
Values
-
81%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
76%
RecognitionAdvancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
-
71%
IndependenceWork alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
-
64%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
48%
RelationshipsServe and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
-
48%
SupportSupportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
Demands
-
100%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
-
99%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
-
99%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
-
94%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
93%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
-
91%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
-
91%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
-
89%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
85%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
83%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
82%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
80%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
-
80%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
-
75%
In an enclosed vehicle or equipmentWork in a closed vehicle (e.g., car).
-
74%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
-
74%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
-
74%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
64%
Angry or unpleasant peopleDeal with unpleasant, angry, or rude people.
-
64%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
-
63%
Conflict situationsDeal with conflict or disagreements.
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 27-3022.00 - Reporters and Correspondents.
Links and downloads
Research and reports
The Skills Priority List provides a current labour market rating and a future demand rating for nearly 800 occupations nationally. Current labour market ratings are available for occupations at a state and territory level.
Downloads
-
Occupation profiles data are available for download.
The Employment Projections are available for download.