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Journalist Resume Samples and Templates for 2026

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Journalist Resume Examples and Templates: A Complete Guide

A professional journalist resume is essential for standing out in India’s competitive media landscape. Whether you’re applying for positions at national newspapers like The Times of India or The Hindu, television news channels like NDTV or India Today, digital platforms like The Print or Scroll, or regional media houses, your resume should highlight your reporting skills, storytelling abilities, and experience in breaking news and investigative journalism.

This guide walks you through journalist resume examples and templates, formatting tips, and keywords to help you write a resume that stands out to recruiters at leading media organisations in India.

Understanding the Journalist Role in India

Journalists are the eyes and ears of society, gathering, verifying, and presenting news to inform the public. From covering political developments at Parliament to investigating corporate fraud, journalists play a vital role in India’s democracy through responsible and impactful reporting across print, broadcast, and digital platforms.

Key responsibilities include:

Researching, reporting, and writing news stories
Conducting interviews with sources and newsmakers
Investigating leads and breaking news stories
Meeting editorial deadlines and filing reports
Creating multimedia content (video, audio, graphics)
Managing social media and digital engagement
Fact-checking and verifying information
Adhering to journalistic ethics and standards

India’s vibrant media industry and growing digital news consumption create strong demand for skilled journalists across traditional and new media platforms.

Preparing to Write Your Journalist Resume

Before drafting your resume, gather all relevant information:

Professional details to compile:

Complete employment history in journalism roles
Publications and channels worked for
Beats covered (politics, business, sports, crime)
Notable stories and exclusives
Awards and recognition received
Digital and multimedia skills
Languages known and regional expertise
Portfolio of published work

Research target employers:

Review requirements from newspapers like TOI, HT, Indian Express
Understand expectations at channels like NDTV, Republic, Zee News
Note specific beats and skills mentioned in job descriptions

Choosing the Best Resume Format

Select a format that best presents your journalism experience:

Chronological Format

Best for journalists with steady career progression across newsrooms. Highlights your work at publications in reverse chronological order.

Functional Format

Suitable for fresh graduates or career changers entering journalism who want to emphasise writing skills and academic projects over limited professional experience.

Combination Format

Ideal for freelance journalists balancing diverse experience across multiple publications, beats, and media formats.

Format recommendations by experience: | Experience Level | Recommended Format | Resume Length | |-----------------|-------------------|---------------| | Entry-level (0-3 years) | Chronological | 1 page | | Mid-level (3-8 years) | Combination | 1-2 pages | | Senior (8+ years) | Chronological | 2 pages |

Professional Summary Examples

Your professional summary should immediately communicate your journalism expertise:

Entry-Level Journalist

Mass Communication graduate from IIMC Delhi seeking reporting position with national daily. Completed internship at The Indian Express covering Delhi politics and municipal issues. Published 30+ bylined articles during internship. Proficient in digital reporting, social media, and video editing. Strong news sense and ability to work under deadline pressure. Eager to contribute to impactful journalism while developing expertise in investigative reporting.

Experienced Reporter

Results-driven journalist with 6+ years of experience covering business and economy for national publications. Currently Senior Correspondent at The Economic Times Mumbai covering banking and financial services. Broke 10+ exclusive stories on banking NPAs and RBI policy. Expertise in data journalism, financial reporting, and source development. Recipient of Ramnath Goenka Award for business journalism. MA in Journalism from ACJ Chennai.

Editor/Bureau Chief

Strategic news leader with 15+ years of experience managing newsrooms and editorial operations. Currently Bureau Chief at NDTV Delhi managing team of 20 reporters covering national politics. Led coverage of 3 general elections and multiple state elections. Expertise in breaking news management, investigative journalism, and team mentoring. PG Diploma from IIMC with multiple journalism awards including Sahitya Akademi recognition.

Digital Journalist

Multimedia journalist with 8 years of experience in digital-first newsrooms. Currently Senior Editor at The Print Delhi leading politics and policy vertical. Expertise in long-form journalism, data visualisation, and audience development. Articles averaged 100,000+ page views monthly. Built social media following of 50,000+ on Twitter. MA from Columbia Journalism School with strong track record of viral journalism.

Showcasing Your Work Experience

Present your journalism experience with specific achievements and metrics:

Bureau Chief

NDTV | New Delhi April 2019 – Present

Lead Delhi bureau managing team of 20 reporters and producers
Oversee political coverage including Parliament and government ministries
Led coverage of 2024 General Elections with 500+ stories
Broke 15+ exclusive political stories with national impact
Developed sources across political spectrum and bureaucracy
Manage live breaking news coverage and prime time programming
Mentor junior reporters on investigative and source-based journalism
Coordinate with headquarters on editorial strategy and resources
Received ENBA Award for election coverage (2024)

Senior Correspondent

The Economic Times | Mumbai June 2015 – March 2019

Covered banking, financial services, and RBI policy
Published 500+ articles with 10+ exclusive front-page stories
Broke stories on bank NPAs, mergers, and regulatory actions
Developed deep source network across banking sector
Created data-driven explainers on complex financial issues
Represented publication at banking and finance conferences
Mentored 5 junior reporters on business journalism
Received Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence (2018)

Reporter

The Indian Express | Delhi July 2012 – May 2015

Covered Delhi politics, government, and civic issues
Published 300+ bylined articles across editions
Broke stories on municipal governance and urban development
Covered Delhi Assembly elections with ground-level reporting
Developed sources in Delhi government and municipal bodies
Created multimedia content for digital platform
Completed newspaper’s investigative journalism training

Essential Skills for Journalists

Reporting Skills

News gathering and research
Interview techniques
Source development and cultivation
Investigative journalism
Breaking news coverage
Beat reporting
Data journalism
Fact-checking and verification
Writing and editing
Headline and caption writing

Technical Skills

Content management systems (CMS)
Video editing (Premiere, Final Cut)
Audio editing and podcasting
Social media management
Data visualisation tools
Photography and photo editing
Live streaming and broadcasting
SEO and digital analytics
Mobile journalism (MoJo)
Graphic design basics

Soft Skills

News judgement and instinct
Meeting deadlines under pressure
Communication and interpersonal skills
Persistence and determination
Ethical judgement
Adaptability
Teamwork and collaboration
Critical thinking
Curiosity and learning
Stress management

Certifications for Journalists

Professional Certifications

Certification	Issuing Body	Relevance
PG Diploma in Journalism	IIMC	Premier journalism training
MA Journalism	ACJ Chennai	Advanced journalism
Digital Journalism Certificate	Various	Digital skills
Data Journalism Certificate	Google/Knight	Data skills
Investigative Journalism	ICIJ	Investigation expertise
Mobile Journalism	Various	MoJo skills

Academic Qualifications

PG Diploma from IIMC (New Delhi, Dhenkanal, Aizawl)
MA from Asian College of Journalism (ACJ)
MA/BA in Mass Communication from top universities
Journalism degree from Symbiosis, SIMC
BA English/Political Science with journalism training
International degrees (Columbia, Cardiff, City)

Additional Certifications

Video production certification
Social media marketing
Data analysis and visualisation
Podcast production
Photography certification
Hindi/Regional language proficiency

Tips by Experience Level

Entry-Level Journalists (0-3 years)

Highlight journalism school education
Include internship and campus publication work
Emphasise writing samples and portfolio
Showcase digital and social media skills
Include languages known and regional expertise

Target employers: Regional dailies, digital startups, news agencies

Mid-Level Journalists (3-8 years)

Quantify articles published and exclusives broken
Highlight beat expertise and source network
Showcase awards and recognition received
Demonstrate multimedia and digital capabilities
Include mentoring and training contributions

Target positions: Senior Correspondent, Special Correspondent, Assistant Editor

Senior Journalists (8+ years)

Emphasise leadership and team management
Highlight landmark stories and investigations
Showcase editorial decision-making experience
Demonstrate industry recognition and awards
Include speaking engagements and teaching

Target positions: Bureau Chief, Editor, Executive Editor, Managing Editor

ATS Optimisation for Journalist Resumes

Ensure your resume passes Applicant Tracking Systems:

Essential keywords to include:

Journalist, reporter, correspondent
Byline, published, exclusive
Beat, coverage, breaking news
Investigation, sources, interview
Newspaper, television, digital
Editor, newsroom, deadline
Politics, business, sports, crime
IIMC, ACJ, journalism degree
Video, multimedia, social media
Awards, recognition, achievement

ATS-friendly formatting:

Use standard section headings (Summary, Experience, Skills, Education)
List publications and awards clearly
Avoid tables, graphics, and complex formatting
Use standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
Include article counts and awards as specifics

Conclusion

A professional journalist resume is essential for success in India’s vibrant media industry. Whether you’re targeting positions at national dailies like The Times of India and Indian Express, television channels like NDTV and India Today, or digital platforms like The Print and Scroll, your resume must demonstrate your reporting skills, storytelling abilities, and track record of impactful journalism.

Focus on quantifying your achievements—articles published, exclusives broken, and awards received. Highlight your journalism education from IIMC, ACJ, or other recognised institutions that validate your training. With India’s growing media landscape and increasing digital news consumption, skilled journalists have excellent career opportunities across traditional and new media platforms.

Use our resume builder to create an ATS-optimised journalist resume, or explore our professional templates designed specifically for media professionals in India.

Frequently Asked Questions

What sections should a strong journalist resume include?

At minimum, include contact information, a professional summary, work experience, key skills, and education. Depending on your experience level, you may also add certifications, achievements, projects, or industry-specific sections that highlight your expertise.

How do I write a professional summary for a journalist role?

Keep it concise — two to three sentences highlighting your experience level, core competencies, and a key achievement or strength that shows why you're right for the job. Tailor it to match the specific role you're applying for.

What skills are most important to list on a journalist resume?

Include a mix of technical skills specific to journalist roles and soft skills like communication, problem-solving, and teamwork. Research job postings in your target companies to identify the most commonly requested skills.

How detailed should my work experience be?

Use bullet points to describe your roles, focusing on specific results, tools used, and the impact you made. Quantify achievements where possible — numbers and percentages help recruiters quickly understand your contributions.

Do I need certifications on my journalist resume?

Certifications aren't always required, but they can strengthen your application — especially if they demonstrate advanced training or specialised expertise. List the certification name, issuing organisation, and year obtained.

What's the best resume format for a journalist?

Most journalist professionals benefit from a reverse-chronological format that lists your most recent experience first. If you're changing careers or have gaps, a functional or combination format might work better.

How long should my journalist resume be?

Aim for one page if you're early in your career. Experienced professionals with extensive achievements can use two pages — just ensure every section adds value and remains relevant to the role.

Should I tailor my resume for each job application?

Yes. Customising your resume with keywords and responsibilities from the job posting improves your chances of passing Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and resonating with recruiters. Focus on relevant experience and skills for each role.

Journalist Text-Only Resume Templates and Samples

Rakesh Yadav

Phone: 09891999591

Email: rakesh@drupaltechie.com

Address: e-360, Beta-1, Greater Noida

About Me

Journalism

A talented and immensely creative journalist with a commitment to high-quality research and writing Dedication to sound investigative research methods and a strong desire to know the truth of the matter; excellent reporting and interviewing skills and award-winning writing techniques, Exceptional experience writing and reporting across a variety of platforms, including print, television, and online social media
Extensive experience of XX years in receiving assignments for stories, evaluating leads and pitching compelling story ideas to editors, revising and editing work for editorial approval, and collaborating with other reporters, editors, and production staff
Skilled in gathering information for newsworthy stories through observation, interviews, investigation, and research; building a network of sources for interviews and developing relationships within the community
Instrumental in analyzing facts and information and determining the most effective way to tell the story; organizing details to create the most impactful stories for the given medium; attending and reporting on events such as artistic, political, or social functions as well as sporting events
Strong journalistic integrity; very proficient with all word processing programs and platforms; building long-term relationships with sources for use in future stories; engaging in customer service with clients and content creators
Ability to find, source, and verify original content; an excellent portfolio of published articles; hands-on experience in writing and editing; passion about writing and creating interesting stories; strong knowledge of media processes
Excellent communication and research skills; charismatic and magnetic personality; critical thinking and problem-solving skills; good time-management skills; great interpersonal and communication skills

Education

Journalism, Master of Mass Communications, Graduated, July 2010

Amity University

– Marks 70

Greater Noida, UP

Certifications

Certificate of Journalism, Completed , January 2014

Work Experience

Period: April 2018 - Current

Journalist / Reporter

The Retail Jeweller India Magazine

Greater Noida, UP

Interview people in a range of different circumstances
Build contacts in many areas to maintain a flow of news, such as with the police and emergency services, local council, community groups, health trusts, press officers from a variety of organizations, and the general public
Seek out and investigate stories via your contacts, press releases, and other media
Attend press conferences and ask questions; attend a range of events, such as council meetings, magistrates' court proceedings, football matches, talent contests, etc.
Answer the phones on the news desk and react to breaking news stories
Work closely with the news team, photographers, and editors
Record interviews and meetings using shorthand or technical equipment
Produce concise and accurate copy according to the newspaper's house style and to strict deadlines - daily newspapers may have several each day
Write shorter, 'filler' stories to entertain, and research and write longer feature articles, sometimes for subsidiary publications and supplements
Create and upload news content for the newspaper website

Period: September 2010 - August 2014

News Writer / Reporter / Correspondent (In-Office)

Lehren Networks

Mumbai, MH

Conducted research to uncover interesting and significant news
Gathered, corroborated, and interpreted data
Interviewed key persons (witnesses, sources, etc.) to obtain more information
Used findings to construct a well-written article; retained awareness of the readers’ point of view
Obtained first-hand information by being present in happenings
Received assignments or investigate news leads/tips
Complied with the moral code of the profession; maintained notes and audio recordings
Partnered with other journalists, editors, producers, etc.
Established contacts and sources for use in future research
Kept abreast of developments by studying papers, attending events, etc.