How to Become a Business Reporter

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To land a business reporting gig, you must first have a strong grasp of the basics: news writing, gathering and AP style. Familiarity with financial and economic concepts and such business-specific elements as writing corporate earnings reports are the factors that elevate you to a possible candidate for a business-related reporting position.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Step1

Obtain a strong command of grammar, specifically print writing and news gathering. Select a journalism program with a strong emphasis on the fundamentals. From there you can segue into the business niche.

Step2

Select a business reporting or economics track. Many schools give journalism majors the option to delve into specific areas, such as legal and court reporting. Select the program that most advances your knowledge of how to write for a business publication or publication's business section.

Step3

Get real-world business journalism experience. As early as possible, start working for a business magazine or a daily's business department as an intern, apprentice, stringer, freelancer or part-time employee. Nothing beats this experience. The key is to generate clips. Take advantage of every opportunity to write and get a byline that will build your portfolio and credibility with a prospective employer.

Step4

Create a portfolio. This is the key to landing a job. Organize a binder to showcase your best, error-free work. This should demonstrate your range, presenting a mix of business features and trends stories.

Step5

Consider an online portfolio. Having your own site is a polished way to showcase your work and offers ease of use for a prospective employer. You can also consistently update your work as more and better pieces become available. You can also add your resume to the site, so all pertinent information is in one centralized location. This format is becoming increasingly popular, and is highly suggested.

Step6

Focus on business publications. In some ways, business gigs are more plentiful than general assignment reporting jobs, and usually pay better. Such specialization also makes you more marketable and allows you to develop a profitable niche in an increasingly competitive industry.

Step7

Seek out business reporting opportunities, even if you accept a general assignment gig. Even as a GAR, there are still tons of opportunities for business assignments, particularly major economic development stories that impact a city or region. Jump at every chance to cover such stories and familiarize yourself with the publication's business department.