Media

Journalist CV: example and template

This example is for journalists working for newspapers, news websites, radio, TV and podcasts, editors and news editors, and for journalism graduates and people who write as contributors to newsrooms.

The editor-in-chief wants to know what you write about, in which formats, for which newsrooms, whether you can work fast on news and where they can read your work. We show you how to describe this on your CV.

Create your CV in the builderSee the example

Example CV: journalist

All the details in this example are fictional. Treat it as a model of layout and wording, and replace the content with your own experience.

Maciej Górski

Journalist

Warsaw +48 123 456 789 maciej.gorski@example.com portfolio of published work: link author profile on the news site

Professional profile

Journalist with 9 years of experience at a news website and a regional daily. I write news, features and interviews on the economy and social issues, take news editing shifts and run live coverage. I work in a CMS, know SEO and prepare content for social media and podcasts.

Work experience

Journalist and news editor

04.2020 - present

News website, Warsaw

  • Economic news and analysis, about 25 pieces a week.
  • Features and interviews for the weekend edition, including a piece nominated for a journalism award.
  • News editing shifts: choosing stories, headlines and the home page.
  • Live coverage of conferences and events.
  • Optimising articles for search engines and creating social media content.

Reporter

09.2016 - 03.2020

Regional daily, Lodz

  • Articles on local government, the economy and residents' concerns.
  • Interviews with local politicians and experts.
  • Photos and short videos for articles.

Education

Master's degree, journalism and social communication

2011 - 2016

University of Warsaw

Skills

  • News and analysis
  • Features and interviews
  • News editing shifts
  • CMS and SEO
  • Live coverage
  • Fact-checking

Awards and training

  • Nomination for a journalism award, 2023
  • Data journalism training, 2022

Languages

  • English: C1

Additional information

  • Driving licence, category B, ready for weekend shifts

I hereby consent to the processing of my personal data for the purposes necessary to carry out the recruitment process, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 (GDPR).

How to write a journalist CV

Professional summary

Write which media you work for, what you write about and in which formats: news, features, interviews, audio, video. Add your specialism, because newsrooms look for journalists who know the subject. Put the link to your published work in the header.

Journalism graduate after an internship at a local news site. I have written more than 100 news stories and 5 features on city affairs and ran the newsroom's social media profile. I am looking for work as a reporter.

Experience: duties and achievements

Describe newsrooms, topics, formats, the number of pieces and your most important stories. Show results: awards, citations, readership figures if you know them. Add news editing shifts and multimedia work.

Weaker: Writing articles.

Better: Economic news and analysis, about 25 pieces a week.

Weaker: Features.

Better: Features and interviews for the weekend edition, including a piece nominated for a journalism award.

Weaker: Editing.

Better: News editing shifts: choosing stories, headlines and the home page.

Skills worth listing

List journalistic formats, your specialism, tools, SEO and social media. In your soft skills show speed, reliability and resilience under time pressure.

Professional skills

  • Journalistic formats
  • Specialism
  • CMS
  • SEO
  • Multimedia
  • Fact-checking

Personal skills

  • Speed
  • Reliability
  • Resilience under pressure
  • Curiosity
  • Contact with sources

Awards and training

List awards, nominations, fellowships and training, for example in data journalism or fact-checking. Show your most important pieces in a portfolio, not in a long list on the CV.

Journalist CV with no experience

Describe an internship, a student newspaper, student radio, a blog or a podcast. Give the number of pieces and the topics.

Prepare a portfolio of your 3 to 5 best pieces. Local newsrooms often give a first chance as a contributor.

Tailoring your CV to the job offer

A news website looks for speed, SEO and shift work, a weekly for features and interviews, and radio for audio and on-air work. Move to the top what the job ad is about.

The most common mistakes on a journalist CV

Questions and answers

What should a journalist put on a CV?

Newsrooms, topics, formats, the number of pieces, key stories, awards, tools, SEO and a portfolio link.

Does a journalist need a portfolio?

Yes, the editor wants to read your work or listen to your material. Choose a few of your best pieces.

Can you become a journalist without a journalism degree?

Yes. Newsrooms value a specialism, for example in economics or law, and good writing.

Does a journalist need SEO?

At news websites, yes, because headlines and articles must be visible in search engines.

Create a journalist CV in the builder

In the CV Majster builder you enter your details step by step and see right away what the document looks like. You can copy the wording from this page and adapt it to yourself. The finished CV as a PDF costs a one-off PLN 5, with no subscription, and you see the preview before you pay.

Go to the CV builder

See also

Resume examples for similar jobs

Career guide

All resume examples by job