Journalist Duties & Responsibilities

The role and function of a Journalist includes the following duties and responsibilities:

  • Conduct research to uncover interesting and significant news
  • Gather, corroborate and interpret data
  • Interview key persons (witnesses, sources etc.) to obtain more information
  • Use findings to construct a well-written article
  • Retain awareness of the readers’ point of view
  • Obtain first-hand information by being present in happenings
  • Receive assignments or investigate news leads/tips
  • Comply with the moral code of the profession
  • Maintain notes and audio recordings
  • Partner with other journalists, editors, producers etc
  • Establish contacts and sources for use in future research
  • Keep abreast on developments by studying papers, attending events etc.

Note that this is not an exhaustive list of Journalist duties and responsibilities. Job functions for specific Journalist roles may vary, depending on the industry and type of employer.