← Occupation guides

27-3023.00 · Task explorer

News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists: reported tasks and exploration worksheet

Narrate or write news stories, reviews, or commentary for print, broadcast, or other communications media such as newspapers, magazines, radio, or television. May collect and analyze information through interview, investigation, or observation.

Use the skill profile to plan your next practice →

Read the task inventory

This source lists 30 tasks, including 26 marked Core and 4 marked Supplemental. Labels and dates are retained below. Employers can combine or divide these responsibilities differently; explore the task itself before assuming it belongs in every version of the role.

Task source dates: 08/2026.

30 tasks shown

Core · Task 22634 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Report news stories for publication or broadcast, describing the background and details of events.

Core · Task 22630 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Gather information and develop perspectives about news subjects through research, interviews, observation, and experience.

Core · Task 22628 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Research a story's background information to provide complete and accurate information.

Core · Task 22629 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Arrange interviews with people who can provide information about a story.

Core · Task 22633 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Establish and maintain relationships with individuals who are credible sources of information.

Core · Task 22637 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Investigate breaking news developments, such as disasters, crimes, or human-interest stories.

Core · Task 22631 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Select material most pertinent to presentation, and organize this material into appropriate formats.

Core · Task 22639 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Report on specialized fields such as medicine, green technology, environmental issues, science, politics, sports, arts, consumer affairs, business, religion, crime, or education.

Core · Task 22636 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Review and evaluate notes taken about news events to isolate pertinent facts and details.

Core · Task 22627 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Receive assignments or evaluate leads or tips to develop story ideas.

Core · Task 22642 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Check reference materials, such as books, news files, or public records, to obtain relevant facts.

Core · Task 22640 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Determine a published or broadcasted story's emphasis, length, and format, organizing material accordingly.

Core · Task 22625 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Examine news items of local, national, and international significance to determine topics to address, or obtain assignments from editorial staff members.

Core · Task 22646 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Take pictures or video, and process them for inclusion in a story.

Core · Task 22638 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Review written, audio, or video copy, and correct errors in content, grammar, or punctuation, following prescribed editorial style and formatting guidelines.

Core · Task 22623 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Write commentaries, columns, or scripts, using computers.

Core · Task 22626 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Analyze and interpret news and information received from various sources to broadcast the information.

Core · Task 22647 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Conduct taped or filmed interviews or narratives.

Core · Task 22635 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Revise work to meet editorial approval or to fit time or space requirements.

Core · Task 22648 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Develop ideas or material for columns or commentaries by analyzing and interpreting news, current issues, or personal experiences.

Core · Task 22641 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Transmit news stories or reporting information from remote locations, using equipment such as satellite phones, telephones, fax machines, or modems.

Core · Task 22643 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Discuss issues with editors to establish priorities or positions.

Core · Task 22649 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Communicate with readers, viewers, advertisers, or the general public via mail, email, or telephone.

Core · Task 22644 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Photograph or videotape news events.

Core · Task 22650 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Write online blog entries that address news developments or offer additional information, opinions, or commentary on news events.

Core · Task 22652 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Write columns, editorials, commentaries, or reviews that interpret events or offer opinions.

Supplemental · Task 22645 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Present live or recorded commentary via broadcast media.

Supplemental · Task 22624 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Coordinate and serve as an anchor on news broadcast programs.

Supplemental · Task 22632 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Present news stories, and introduce in-depth videotaped segments or live transmissions from on-the-scene reporters.

Supplemental · Task 22651 · 08/2026 · Incumbent

Assign stories to other reporters or duties to production staff.

Make the shortlist useful

  1. Choose one to three activities that tell you something different about the work. Avoid selecting several ways of describing the same interest.
  2. For each, write an example you can discuss or a question that would change your understanding of the role.
  3. Keep source task IDs with your notes so you can return to the same description. Do not include private employer or customer information.

The exported worksheet distinguishes the reported task from your own notes. It supports exploration, not a hiring decision or a validated assessment.

Keep your worksheet

Download before leaving this page. Unsaved writing remains only in the page and is cleared on refresh. Notes and learning actions are not sent to a server. This guide describes an occupation and supports study planning; it does not provide clinical, legal or equipment-operating procedures.

Source and practice material

Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.

Skill Workbench selected and adapted the occupational information and added its own fictional cases, calculations, guidance and worksheets. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.