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Journalist Resume Samples and Templates for 2026

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Journalist Resume Guide for India

A well-crafted journalist resume is essential for success in India’s vibrant and competitive media landscape. Whether you’re a fresher starting your career after completing a journalism degree from IIMC or ACJ, or an experienced professional seeking growth at top publications like Times of India, NDTV, or digital-first platforms like The Wire, this guide provides everything you need to create a standout resume that impresses Indian editors and passes ATS screening on portals like Naukri and LinkedIn.

This comprehensive guide includes:

Resume format recommendations for India
Key skills Indian media houses look for
Complete resume example with Indian context
Top journalist employers in India
Salary insights in INR by experience level
Portfolio and certification guidance
ATS optimization tips for Indian job portals

Why Your Journalist Resume Matters in India

India’s media industry employs over 10 lakh professionals across print, digital, and broadcast, with companies like NDTV, Times Group, The Hindu, Scroll.in, and The Quint actively hiring talented journalists. A strong resume helps you:

Stand out from thousands of applicants on Naukri and LinkedIn
Pass ATS screening used by major Indian media houses
Showcase skills that Indian editors value, including beat expertise and multimedia skills
Demonstrate your understanding of Indian news landscape and press ethics

Indian editors typically spend 6-10 seconds reviewing each resume initially. Your journalist resume must immediately communicate your beat expertise, published work, and storytelling abilities. With the evolving media landscape in India, a well-optimized resume is your ticket to landing interviews at top publications.

Journalist Resume Format for India

Indian media houses prefer clean, professional resume formats that reflect journalistic clarity. Here’s what works best:

Recommended Format

Length: 1-2 pages (freshers: 1 page, experienced: 2 pages max)
Layout: Reverse chronological (most recent first)
Font: Clean fonts like Georgia, Calibri, or Times New Roman (11-12pt)
Sections: Contact, Summary, Published Work/Portfolio, Skills, Experience, Education

Resume vs Portfolio

In India, your resume and published work portfolio work together. Your resume should be concise, while your portfolio showcases your best stories. Include links to your published articles, videos, or multimedia work.

Personal Details for Indian Journalist Resumes

Indian resumes typically include:

Full name
Phone number with country code (+91)
Professional email address
Twitter/X handle (important for journalists)
LinkedIn profile URL
Personal website/portfolio link
City, State (full address not required)

What to Avoid

Complex formatting or decorative elements
Personal information like religion, caste, or father’s name (outdated practice)
Salary expectations (discuss during interview)
References (provide when requested)

Key Skills for Journalists in India

Indian media houses look for a combination of reporting expertise and multimedia skills.

Core Journalism Skills

News Reporting: Breaking news, investigative, and feature writing
Beat Expertise: Politics, business, technology, sports, entertainment, etc.
Interviewing: Conducting and transcribing interviews
Research: Deep research and fact-verification
Storytelling: Compelling narrative construction
News Judgment: Identifying newsworthy stories
Ethics: Understanding of press ethics and legal considerations

Digital & Multimedia Skills

Video reporting and editing
Podcast production
Social media reporting
Data journalism basics
SEO for news content
Live reporting and streaming

Software & Tools

Microsoft Word/Google Docs
WordPress/CMS platforms
Adobe Premiere Pro (video)
Audacity (audio)
Canva (graphics)
Social media tools (TweetDeck, etc.)
Data visualization tools

Soft Skills Valued in Indian Newsrooms

Communication: Clear writing and verbal skills in English and Hindi
Tenacity: Persistence in pursuing stories
Deadline Management: Working under tight news cycles
Adaptability: Covering breaking news and shifting priorities
Source Building: Developing and maintaining contacts

How to Present Skills

List skills in order of relevance to the job description. Use exact keywords from job postings on Naukri or LinkedIn to improve ATS matching. For journalist roles, prioritize beat expertise and specific reporting experience.

Journalist Resume Example for India

Here’s a complete resume example tailored for Indian media houses:

Priya Sharma

New Delhi, India | +91-98XXX-XXXXX | priya.sharma@email.com | @PriyaSharmaNews | linkedin.com/in/priyasharmanews

Professional Summary

Award-winning Political Journalist with 6+ years of experience covering national politics, elections, and policy issues for leading Indian publications. Proven track record of breaking exclusive stories, including election funding investigations that led to policy changes. Expertise in digital-first reporting with multimedia skills and 500K+ combined social media followers. Published in The Hindu, Scroll.in, and featured on NDTV debates.

Key Skills

Professional Experience

Senior Political Correspondent | The Hindu | New Delhi | March 2021 – Present

Cover Parliament sessions, Cabinet decisions, and national elections with daily bylines
Break 15+ exclusive stories annually on political funding, policy decisions, and party politics
Produce video explainers for digital platform garnering 1M+ views on key political events
Anchor weekly politics podcast “Inside Parliament” with 50K+ downloads per episode
Lead team of 3 junior reporters covering North India politics beat

Political Reporter | Scroll.in | New Delhi | June 2018 – February 2021

Covered 2019 General Elections with ground reports from 50+ constituencies
Produced multimedia election coverage including video, data visualizations, and long-form features
Investigation on electoral bonds received Ramnath Goenka Excellence Award nomination
Built Twitter following of 100K+ through real-time election analysis

Trainee Reporter | Indian Express | New Delhi | July 2016 – May 2018

Started on city desk covering crime, courts, and municipal affairs
Graduated to political desk covering state elections and party politics
Wrote 300+ bylined stories across beats
Received Best Trainee Reporter Award 2017

Education

Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism | Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi | 2016

Specialization: Print Journalism
Gold Medal for Best All-Round Performance

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science | Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University | 2014

First Class with Distinction
President, Politics Society

Awards & Recognition

Ramnath Goenka Award Nomination | 2022 | Electoral Bonds Investigation
Red Ink Award for Political Reporting | 2021
The Hindu Young Journalist Award | 2020
IIMC Gold Medal | 2016

Published Work Portfolio

View my work at: priyasharmanews.com

Notable stories include:

“The Electoral Bonds Trail” - 6-part investigation series (Scroll.in)
“Inside the BJP’s Karnataka Campaign” - Ground report (The Hindu)
“Farm Laws: One Year Later” - Multimedia feature (The Hindu)

Languages

English (Native) | Hindi (Native) | Punjabi (Conversational)

Declaration

I hereby declare that the information provided above is true to the best of my knowledge.

Priya Sharma New Delhi, December 2024

Note: Declaration statements are common in Indian resumes.

Top Journalist Employers in India

India’s media industry offers diverse opportunities. Here are the top employers:

Print & Digital News

Times of India/Economic Times: Largest English daily
Hindustan Times: Major national newspaper
The Hindu: Respected Chennai-based publication
Indian Express: Known for investigative journalism
Mint: Business and financial journalism

Digital-First Platforms

Scroll.in: Digital news and analysis
The Wire: Independent journalism
The Quint: Digital multimedia
Firstpost: News and opinion
The Print: Political journalism

Television News

NDTV: English news channel
India Today TV: News and current affairs
Times Now: English news
CNN-News18: English news channel
Wion: International news focus

Regional & Vernacular Media

Dainik Bhaskar: Hindi daily
Amar Ujala: Hindi newspaper
Malayala Manorama: Malayalam daily
Ananda Bazar Patrika: Bengali daily
Eenadu: Telugu newspaper

How to Apply

Visit publication career pages directly
Apply through Naukri.com and LinkedIn
Network on Twitter with editors
Pitch stories as freelance to get noticed
Attend Press Club events and journalism conferences

Journalist Salary in India

Salaries vary based on experience, beat, platform type, and location.

Salary by Experience Level

Experience	Annual Salary (INR)
Fresher (0-1 years)	₹2.5 - ₹4 LPA
Early Career (2-4 years)	₹4 - ₹7 LPA
Mid-Career (5-8 years)	₹7 - ₹15 LPA
Senior (8+ years)	₹15 - ₹40+ LPA

Note: TV anchors and editors can earn significantly higher; digital platforms often pay competitively with equity.

Salary by City

City	Salary Range (Mid-Level)
Delhi NCR	₹8 - ₹15 LPA
Mumbai	₹7 - ₹14 LPA
Bangalore	₹6 - ₹12 LPA
Chennai	₹5 - ₹10 LPA
Hyderabad	₹5 - ₹9 LPA
Kolkata	₹4 - ₹8 LPA

Freelance Rates

News Articles: ₹1,500 - ₹10,000 per piece
Features/Long-form: ₹5,000 - ₹25,000
Investigations: ₹20,000 - ₹1,00,000+
Video Reports: ₹5,000 - ₹30,000
Monthly Columns: ₹10,000 - ₹50,000

Factors Affecting Salary

Beat: Business and tech journalists often earn more
Platform: TV pays higher than print; digital varies
Profile: High-profile bylines command premium
Multimedia skills: Video and digital skills boost salary

Salary data based on Glassdoor India, AmbitionBox, and industry surveys.

Certifications for Journalists in India

Professional development and training boost your credentials.

Journalism Education in India

IIMC (Indian Institute of Mass Communication): Premier journalism school
ACJ (Asian College of Journalism), Chennai: Highly respected program
Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai: Media training
Symbiosis Institute of Media & Communication: Mass communication
Times School of Journalism: Industry-linked training

Online Certifications

Reuters Digital Journalism Course: Free online training
Knight Center MOOCs: Specialized journalism courses
Google News Initiative: Digital journalism skills
Poynter: News literacy and fact-checking
Columbia Journalism School Online: Advanced courses

Professional Bodies

Editors Guild of India: Professional association
Press Club of India: Journalist community
Indian Women’s Press Corps: Women journalists network
Digital News Publishers Association: Digital media body

How to List Credentials

Include institution name, degree/certificate, and year. Awards and fellowship programs (like Reuters, Knight) are highly valued. Mention specialized training in data journalism or video.

ATS Tips for Your Journalist Resume

Most Indian media companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes. Optimize yours:

For Naukri.com

Use keywords from the job description (political reporting, investigative journalism)
Keep formatting simple—ATS can’t read complex layouts
Use standard section headings (Experience, Education, Skills)
Upload in .docx or .pdf format

For LinkedIn Applications

Match your resume to your LinkedIn profile for consistency
Use industry-standard job titles (Political Correspondent, not “Story Hunter”)
Include relevant keywords in your skills section
Get recommendations from editors and colleagues

General ATS Tips

DO: Use clean fonts, clear headings, bullet points
DO: Include exact keywords from job postings (breaking news, video reporting)
DO: Mention specific beats and coverage areas
DON’T: Use headers/footers, text boxes, or graphics
DON’T: Use creative section titles (use “Experience” not “My Journalism Journey”)

Keyword Strategy for Indian Journalism Roles

Review 5-10 job postings for journalist positions. Common keywords include:

News reporting, investigative journalism
Specific beats (politics, business, technology)
Video journalism, multimedia reporting
Breaking news, deadline pressure
Social media, digital storytelling

Final Tips for Your Journalist Resume

✅ Published work matters most: Link to your best published stories—editors will read them

✅ Highlight exclusives: Breaking news and exclusive stories demonstrate news judgment

✅ Show beat expertise: Specialize and demonstrate deep knowledge in your area

✅ Include social following: If you have a strong Twitter following, mention it

✅ Quantify impact: Mention awards, story reach, or policy changes resulting from investigations

✅ Keep it updated: Add recent bylines and achievements regularly

Quick Checklist

Contact information includes Twitter handle and portfolio link
Professional summary highlights beat expertise and notable work
Skills section includes both journalism and multimedia abilities
Experience shows bylines and exclusive/impact stories
Education includes journalism school credentials
Awards and recognition prominently featured
Links to published work portfolio
Formatting is clean and ATS-friendly
Length is appropriate (1-2 pages)

Ready to create your professional journalist resume? Use our resume builder to get started with expert-designed templates optimized for Indian job portals and ATS systems.

Looking for more guidance? Check out our resume format guide for additional tips on structuring your journalism resume for the Indian media market.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should a journalist resume include?

A strong journalist resume should list your contact information, professional summary, work experience in reporting or editing, writing or portfolio links, skills relevant to media, education, and any certifications or awards that show your strengths.

How do I write an effective professional summary for a journalist resume?

Your summary should quickly explain who you are, your experience in journalism (like reporting or multimedia), your key strengths (investigative skills, storytelling), and what value you bring to a news organization.

What key skills should I highlight on my journalist resume?

Include both hard skills — such as news writing, editing, fact-checking, interviewing, multimedia reporting, and CMS tools — and soft skills like communication, time management, and attention to detail.

How should I describe my work experience?

Use bullet points in reverse chronological order to describe your roles, the stories you covered, where your work was published, and measurable results such as audience engagement or impact.

Should I include links to my published work on my resume?

Absolutely. Always include links to your online portfolio, published articles, or multimedia pieces so employers can easily see examples of your best journalism work.

What education do employers look for in a journalist resume?

Most media roles look for at least a Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications, English, or a related field, though relevant experience and a strong portfolio can also be persuasive.

Do certifications or awards matter on a journalist resume?

Yes — listing certifications (like investigative journalism training) or industry awards helps highlight your professionalism and commitment to the field.

How can I tailor my resume to specific journalism jobs?

Read the job description closely and include keywords and skills they mention, like investigative reporting, broadcast experience, or digital storytelling tools. This helps both human readers and ATS systems see you're a good match.

What format works best for a journalist resume?

A reverse-chronological format that shows your most recent experience first is usually best. Keep the layout clean and professional so editors can scan it quickly.

How long should a journalist resume be?

For most candidates, 1–2 pages is appropriate — one page if you're early in your career, two pages if you have extensive experience that's directly relevant.

How do I make my resume pass Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)?

Use standard headings (like "Work Experience" and "Skills"), relevant keywords from the job posting, and simple formatting so ATS software can read your resume easily.

Should I include a cover letter with my journalist resume?

A cover letter isn't always required, but it's a great opportunity to explain your passion for journalism, highlight key achievements, and show how your experience fits the job you're applying for.

Journalist Text-Only Resume Templates and Samples

Abhi sandilya

Phone: 9871275111

Email: writer@shriresume.com

Address: Central Delhi

About Me

Journalist

Enthusiastic and dedicated journalism graduate seeking an entry-level position as a Journalist. Eager to leverage strong writing skills, investigative prowess, and a passion for storytelling to produce compelling and informative news content.

Extra Curricular Activities

Wrote news articles, features, and opinion pieces for the university's student newspaper.
Conducted interviews with students, faculty, and staff to gather information for stories.
Participated in editorial meetings and collaborated with other reporters to plan content.

Education

News Writing, Investigative Journalism, Bachelor of Arts, Completed, February 2024

Arya College

State University

Najafgarh, DL

Certifications

Certificate in Investigative Journalism, Completed , April 2024
Google Analytics Individual Qualification, Completed , May 2024

Internships

Period: March 2024 - July 2024

Editorial Intern

Champak Newspaper/News Agency

Daulatpur, HP

Researched and wrote news articles on various topics, including local events, politics, and human interest stories.
Conducted interviews with sources and gathered information to ensure accurate and balanced reporting.
Assisted in the editing and proofreading of articles before publication.
Collaborated with editors and senior journalists to develop story ideas and angles.