20 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.
You often start by checking email and Microsoft Outlook for tips, press releases, and editor notes. Then you scan financial news, company filings, and sources, pick a few leads, and schedule interviews.
Afternoons are for interviews (phone, Zoom, or in-person), writing drafts in Microsoft Word or Google Docs, and sharing updates with editors. Evenings can include updating stories as new numbers arrive or transmitting reports from remote locations.
Most newsrooms use Microsoft Office: Word for drafts, Outlook for email, Excel for financial data and simple models, and PowerPoint for presentations to editors. Some teams use IBM SPSS Statistics for deeper data analysis.
You’ll also use newsroom CMS (content management systems), basic audio or video apps for interviews, and sometimes transcription tools to turn recorded interviews into quotes.
Use AI to summarize long documents, draft interview questions, or clean data, but always verify every fact and quote against primary sources like SEC filings, company statements, or recorded interviews.
Don’t publish AI-generated text as fact. Label AI use to editors, keep audio or original sources, and run numbers in Excel or SPSS yourself to confirm results.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2025 there were about 39,250 reporters employed with a median wage of $62,200 per year.
The lowest tenth earned about $36,240 and the top tenth made about $144,140. Local market, outlet type, and experience make the biggest difference.
Study journalism basics (news writing, interviewing) and take classes in economics, accounting, or statistics so you understand earnings reports and balance sheets. Learn Excel well—sorting, pivot tables, and simple formulas.
Practice by writing for a school paper or local outlet, building a portfolio of clips, and learning newsroom tools like Outlook and a CMS. Consider entry roles like copy desk, intern, or business reporter assistant.
A business reporter writes news stories, conducts interviews, and selects material for public presentation—your job is to inform the public, not advise investors or promote clients.
Financial analysts build models and give investment recommendations; PR people write spin and manage client messages. Reporters must verify facts independently, often using Excel or SPSS to check data and quoting primary sources.
Curiosity about how things work plus the ability to turn complex numbers into clear sentences. That means reading an earnings report, pulling the key metrics into Excel, and explaining what changed and why.
Also, being reliable: meeting deadlines, returning calls, and updating stories fast as new information arrives. Editors trust reporters who file accurate, clear copy on time.