Working as a journalist is a dream that more or less everyone has had at least once in their life: the work of a journalist has always been considered one of the most desired, whether it be for the press, for the radio or for television. The purpose of those who work in journalism is to know how to properly inform their audience. If you are looking for a job as a journalist in an editorial office, follow our tips to create a perfect CV and take a look at our example.
Depending on the environment in which you work, the profession of a journalist varies and has different characteristics, which should also be reflected in the CV. What does not change is the adherence to professional ethics which, regulated by specific laws and mandatory for all members of the Order of Journalists, is the cornerstone of this profession. To be a journalist, you must be registered with the Order of Journalists of the region in which you live. To enroll, you must complete an internship and consistently prepare articles before you can access the Professional qualification exam. The exam is only necessary if you want to become a professional journalist while the publicists have to produce a certain number of articles during a certain period of time to be registered. The register of professional journalists is the most coveted and can also guarantee positions of a certain level. In this guide we present the example of a journalist’s CV for candidates dealing with print media: you can use this template to customize your CV, also considering your work environment and your specializations.
Professional experience
It is no surprise that professional experience is the central element of a journalist’s CV: this is in fact a profession that you learn by practicing it, so even if you have a solid school basis, the only way to progress is to experience. When you start this section, you need to be as clear as possible, enter as much information as possible as long as it is relevant, you need to know how to tell your path to allow the reader to understand the reason why you are applying for a specific position.
Work experience
March 2018 – Today Chief Tourism Editor, Il Giornale dei Viaggi, Milan
- Management magazine contents
- Management of external contributors
- Writing articles
- Article definition and distribution
- Coordination of various editorial departments
- Creation and finalization of menabò
- Research and verification of sources and information ni
January 2015 – January 2017 Tourism Journalist, Il Giornale dei Viaggi, Milan
- Participation in writing arguments
- Writing articles on a fortnightly basis
- Creating menabò
- Search and verification of sources and information
October 2012 – October 2014 Trainee Journalist , Il Giornale delle Cose, Milan
- Research and verification of sources and information
- Writing articles
- Participation in writing arguments
- Participation in creating a daily menu
Education
The education of a journalist can vary a great deal and is not linked to particular fields of study: obviously, the more specialized you are, the better that’s why if after a general degree you have followed specific courses to specialize in a specific subject, this is where they should be inserted.
Course of study
- January 2015 – January 2016 Master in Travel Reportage, Catholic University, Milan
- October 2012 – October 2014 School of Journalism “Walter Tobagi”, Milan
- September 2007- September 2012 Degree in Modern Literature, Catholic University, Milan
Certificates
As specified above, a journalist it can be defined as such only if he is a member of the Order of Journalists. The advent of the Internet has changed things, but the journalist’s card is still very much sought after and required and it is precisely in this section that possession must be specified.
Certificato
- November 2014: Registration in the Register of Professional Journalists, Milan Journalists’ Order, Card Number : 12345
Professional skills
The skills of a journalist, today, are transversal and can embrace many fields: those who work in digital will have to include SEO, Social Media and CMS management. Those who work in traditional newsrooms will have to add knowledge of pagination programs, just to name one.
Skills
- News selection and reliability check – Expert
- Use of software for layout – Expert
- Revision and editing of texts – Expert
Skills
The skills of a journalist are also what characterizes a good professional from a mediocre professional. Combined with all the above, skills can really make a difference when working in this area and should be specified taking into account their relevance to the position you are applying for.
Capacity
- Critical spirit
- Flexibility
- Punctuality
- Excellent writing skills
Foreign languages
In journalism, knowledge of foreign languages should be taken for granted: in fact, the more languages you know and the more chances you have to find a job, not to mention the fact that knowing at least one language other than English allows you to find much more ideas and sources. In this case, being honest is even more important than for other professions: only the languages that you actually master and that can help you in your work should be included in your CV.
Known languages
- English – Mother tongue
- Italian – Excellent
- French – Excellent
How do you design a journalist’s CV?
Words are a fundamental element for a journalist, and it’s not hard for you to get carried away when writing your resume: it’s good to remember that a resume should be effective, it should be easy to read, clear, well-structured, and not too long. A good communicator knows how to make a CV interesting by using the right words, the correct font, not making blunders and not giving in to the lure of excessive or too flashy graphics. We remind you that if you are applying for positions in extremely traditional editorial offices, the format of the European CV may be required.