|
Journalism |
|
Researched by Rainan V.
|
|
Print Journalism
Journalism seems like a very difficult career to some and easy for others. This depends on how you feel about writing and how well you write. If you would like to become a journalist in your adult years you should take a variety of classes (in junior high, high school, and college), including English and foreign languages.
Periods in the Past
There are periods of time in the past that have been named depending
on what was happening to journalism.
New Journalism
The period of time from 1865 to 1900 was the period of time called
New Journalism. During this time great changes occurred including the doubling
of the U.S. population.
Jazz Age
The 1920’s were known as the Jazz Age. Journalism was heavily based
on photographs in this period of time.
Modern Journalism
Today journalism is called Modern Journalism. There are over 100 papers
across the USA and one of them, The Washington Post, was awarded the Pulitzer
Prize for outstanding work for public good.
Training
For training and studying to be a news reporter or journalist you have
to take certain classes. These classes include English, foreign languages,
history, political science, sociology, economics, psychology, and the arts.
The degree that is preferred is a Bachelor’s degree.
Hours/Earnings
The earnings of a journalist or news reporter varies with the skill.
The average earnings for a journalist is $30,510. Most journalist earn
between $22,350 and $47,170. Some journalists, from The New York Times
or other well selling newspapers, earn $69,450. Journalists often work
odd hours, sometimes weekends and nights, in order to get an item done
by a deadline. The hours worked by a journalist or news reporter are around
7-8 hours a day and 5 days a week, although it may vary.
History
America has had many newspapers, although many don’t exist anymore.
The first American newspaper was created in 1638, “Publick Occurrences
Both Forriegn and Domestick.” Sadly, it only lasted one issue before the
British government shut it down.
A type of newspaper called a penny press came out and was popular during
the 1930’s and 1940’s. These papers sold for a penny and were written to
interest everyone. One of these papers was “The New York Sun,” published
by Benjamin Day in the year 1833. There was also “The New York Herald,”
published by James Gordon Bennet in 1835; “The New York Tribune,” created
by Horace Greeley in 1841 and “The New York Times,” created by Jarvis Raymond
and George Jones in 1851.
Joseph Pulitzer, a Hungarian immigrant, was one of the greatest publishers in journalism’s history. After he died in 1911, he left $2 million to create a graduate school for journalism at Columbia University. That was how the Pulitzer Prize was created. The Pulitzer Prize is given for achievement in literature, music, journalism and art.
Different Careers in Journalism
There are many different careers in journalism. These careers include
editors, reporters, journalists, and more. Their earnings, hours, and duties
vary.
Investigative Journalists
Investigative journalists are reporters who find and uncover the mysteries
of the news. Sometimes it may take days, weeks, or months to figure out
one story.
Editorial Writers
Editorial writers express their opinion. Their columns are put into
the editorial section so the readers know that anything written in this
is an opinion. Editorial writers often write about education, politics,
and local or global problems.
Photo Journalists
Photo journalists make the picture tell the story, unlike reporters
who just type the words. The degree needed to become a photo journalist
must be in the field of journalism or some other related field. Often photo
journalists start in small newspapers and gradually move to larger newspapers.
The average salary for a photo journalist is around $250 to $350 per week,
depending on the size of the newspaper.
Editorial Cartoonists
Editorial cartoonists usually draw about politics, social issues, education,
and moral issues. Editorial cartoonists often use paint, brushes, felt
markers, ink, triangles, and pencils. They work around eight or more hours
in a day. Sometimes they may even work six or seven days a week.
Editors
Editors make sure the grammar, spelling, accuracy, and quality is correct.
They shorten up the story so it fits the column the reporters are given.
According to the Newspaper Guild, people with at least five years experience
get an average of $30,000 per year and senior editors get an average of
$67,000 per year.
Copy Editors
Copy editors are also called assistant editors, production editors,
and editorial assistants. They mainly do the same work. They also tell
the reporter if their article has flow. Most copy editors work 35 to 40
hours. They may earn $25,500 to $60,000 per year.
Proof Readers
Proofreaders examine the material more carefully than others. They
see if there are any errors, including punctuation, spelling, missing text,
or wrong page numbers. They also make sure the pictures are the right size,
and in the correct place. They work around 35 to 40 hours a week and earn
around $15 to $25 per hour.
Four Famous Female Journalists
The U.S. Postal Service awarded 37 cent stamps dedicated to four female
journalists for accomplished work. These four journalists were Nellie Bly,
Marguerite Higgins, Ethel L. Payne, and Ida M. Tarbell.
Ida M. Tarbell
Ida M. Tarbell was born in 1857 at Erie County, Pennsylvania. Ida’s
most famous work was the investigation of the Standard Oil Company. She
died at the age of 87, in 1944.
Nellie Bly
Nellie Bly was the pen name of Elizabeth Jane Cochran. She was born
in Cochran Mills, Pennsylvania in 1864. Nellie was famous for being one
of the first female stunt reporters. Nellie participated in many dangerous
activities. She traveled the world in 80 days. Her journey began on November
14, 1889 from New Jersey. She traveled all the way to England. She died
in 1922 at the age of 58.
Ethel L. Payne
Ethel L. Payne was born in 1911. She was known as the first lady of
the black press. Ethel reported on the civil rights movement during the
1950s and 1960s. She died in Washington at the age of 80, in 1991.
Marguerite Higgins
Marguerite Higgins was born in the year 1920. She covered three wars:
World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. In 1951, she won the Pulitzer Prize for
international reporting. Marguerite was the first woman to do this. On
January 3, 1966, Marguerite Higgins died of a tropical disease, at the
age of 46.
Top of page