What Is the Salary of a Gossip Journalist?

Gossip journalists often follow actors and actresses during public events.

A gossip journalist reports on the lives of actors, politicians, professional athletes, musicians and other noteworthy people. Some are employed in the radio and television industries while others write gossip columns for newspapers, websites, supermarket tabloids and gossip magazines. While most gossip columnists earn modest salaries, the industry's top journalists can earn millions of dollars and become almost as famous as the people they report on.

Nature of Work and Qualifications

Gossip journalists work in and out of an office. When in the office, a journalist spends considerable time writing stories, doing phone interviews, chasing leads and verifying information about the subjects about whom they report. They also attend events to do on-the-spot interviews with actors and other celebrities. Like all journalists, a gossip reporter works under strict deadlines. Categorized with reporters and correspondents by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), gossip journalists often earn degrees in journalism, broadcasting, English or communications. Some are educated in other fields or enter the field out of high school.

Print, Broadcast and Columnist Salary

Journalists who work in print comprise more than 30,000 employees. In 2010, print journalists were paid an average annual salary of about $38,500 per year, according to the BLS. This is more than the industry median pay of just more than $16.50 per hour, or about $34,320 per year. According to InsideJobs.com, the average gossip columnist earns between $25,480 and $51,210 per year. The radio and television sector of the journalism market, with only just more than 10,600 workers in 2010, is more competitive than the print market. At the time of publication, the BLS showed that broadcast reporters, including gossip journalists, earned an average of $25.77 per hour or approximately $53,600 per year.

Top Markets

While reporters and correspondents are employed throughout the country, they earn the most in larger metropolitan markets. While some work remotely from various places, most gossip journalists work in markets were celebrities live and work, such as California and New York. In these markets, the average salary for reporters is between nearly $50,000 and $64,00 per year.

Noted Gossip Journalists

While the average gossip journalist can earn around $50,000 per year, some earn considerably more. For example, TMZ's Harvey Levin, who also works as a lawyer and producer, has a net worth of approximately $10 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Other well-known gossip journalists are Liz Smith, who's worked with Oprah Winfrey, the late Hedda Hopper, who was also an actress, and A. J. Benza. Benza has worked for the "New York Daily News," and produced gossip pieces for E! Entertainment.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Reporters and Correspondents
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: 2010-11 Occupational Handbook, News Analysts, Reporters and Correspondents
• Inside Jobs: Gossip Columnist
• Celebrity Net Worth: Harvey Levin
• Oprah.com: Gossip Columnist Liz Zmith
• Biography.com: Hedda Hopper
• Realitytalkradioshow.com: A.J. Benza