How to become a journalist in Australia
Print Journalists collect and analyse facts about newsworthy events by interview, investigation and observation and write stories for newspapers, magazines or journals.
Pay and growth are for the wider journalists and other writers group, which is as fine as the data goes. The all-jobs median is $1,852 a week. Jobs in the journalists and other writers group are projected to grow 18.7% between May 2025 and May 2035, faster than the 13.3% projected for all jobs. Projections are indicative, not forecasts, and JSA says they don't yet reflect generative AI.
What the job involves
- Collects and analyses facts about newsworthy events from interviews, printed matter, investigations and observations.
- Writes news reports, commentaries, articles and feature stories for newspapers, magazines, and journals on topics of public interest.
How to get there
What it usually takes. A bachelor degree or higher. This is the skill level Jobs and Skills Australia gives the journalists and other writers group, and some roles differ.
What people in the job have. Highest qualification held: 75% a degree or higher, 5% a diploma, 2% a Certificate III or IV.
Many jobs also need registration, a licence or a specific accredited course. Check the professional body or regulator before you choose.
Courses that can lead here
Estimate your ATAR and this page shows the gap to each course. Your marks stay on your device.
Victoria7 matches
VTAC lowest selection ranks, December 2025 offer round.
Communication (Journalism major) · Deakin, Geelong Waurn Ponds65.15 Journalism · RMIT, City64.15 Media and Communication (Journalism major) · La Trobe, Melbourne62.70 Media and Communication (Journalism major) · Swinburne, Hawthorn58.20Diplomas and other ways in
Showing 5 of 7 matches. Search every course.
NSW and ACT5 matches
UAC lowest selection ranks, December Round 2, 2025-26 admissions.
Bachelor of Communication in Journalism · UTS78.05 Bachelor of Politics and Journalism · Notre Dame70.30 Bachelor of Communication in Journalism Bachelor of Laws · UTS98.85 Bachelor of Communication in Journalism Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation · UTS81.50 Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Politics and Journalism · Notre Dame77.40Queensland7 matches
QTAC course pages, ATAR/Selection Rank profile for semester 1, 2026.
Bachelor of Journalism · UQ, St Lucia81.50 Bachelor of Journalism/Bachelor of Laws (Honours) · UQ, St Lucia97.55 Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Journalism · UQ, St Lucia84.95 Bachelor of Business Management/Bachelor of Journalism · UQ, St Lucia80.85 Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of Journalism · UQ, St Lucia78.75 Bachelor of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences / Bachelor of Journalism · UQ, St Lucia78.15 Bachelor of Journalism/Bachelor of Arts · UQ, St Lucia78.15Western Australia6 matches
TISC Course Search: lowest ATAR offered for 2026 entry and guaranteed offer ATARs.
Bachelor of Communication in Journalism and Content Production · Murdoch, Perth70.00 guaranteed Bachelor of Arts in Journalism · Curtin, Perth66.10 Bachelor of Journalism and Broadcast Media · ECU, City60.50 Bachelor of Journalism and Broadcast Media (Creative Humanities Portfolio Entry Pathway) · ECU, City60.50Matched on course names, 25 across four admissions centres. A lowest selection rank includes adjustment points and moves every year. Check prerequisites and whether the course is accredited for this job.
Graduate outcomes, national
Undergraduates surveyed about four to six months after finishing, in 2025, across all providers. Full-time work is among those available for it. All graduates: 75.4% and $77,000. These are national figures for the study area, not for this course or uni, and a first-year salary says little about later pay. Source: QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025.
Does it fit your interests?
Strongest interest areas for this kind of work: Artistic, Investigative, Enterprising.
From O*NET ratings for "News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists", the closest US occupation in JSA's correspondence (a acceptable match). US ratings are a guide to Australian jobs, not a measurement of them.
Careers with similar interests
Author or editor Policy analyst$2,173 Public relations professional$2,046 Film or tv director$1,975 Media producer$2,179Done this job, or studied for it?
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Share your storyJob data: © Commonwealth of Australia, Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profiles, February 2026 and Employment Projections, May 2025 to May 2035 (Victoria University), CC BY 4.0. Jobs and Skills Australia, ANZSCO 2013 Version 1.2 to O*NET-SOC 2019 Taxonomy correspondence.
Graduate outcomes: QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025, National Report Tables (Social Research Centre, for the Australian Government).
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