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Resume example

Journalist resume example

A journalist in France gathers facts, checks them and tells them to readers, listeners or viewers.

In a regional daily, the day often starts with the editorial meeting, followed by a court hearing, a town council or a local business opening, then writing two or three pieces and their web versions before the evening deadline. In a national newsroom or at a press agency, you may follow a single beat, such as health, justice or economics, and build a network of sources over years. Many journalists work as pigistes (freelancers paid per article), pitching subjects to several outlets. Increasingly, the job includes photos, short videos, live updates and social media posts. Verifying a figure, protecting a source and correcting an error quickly are as much part of the job as writing.

Resume example

[First name Last name]

Journalist | Regional Daily, Local News, Web and Print

[City] · [phone] · [email]

Profile

Journaliste with [x] years at [newspaper], covering economics and labour issues in [region]. I hold a press card, have built a network of company and union sources, and lead an investigation team on the regional industrial sector.

Experience

Journalist, [Regional newspaper], [City] agency

[month year] to present

  • Covered local politics, courts and economic news for the print edition and website.
  • Revealed the planned closure of a [type] plant after weeks of contacts with employees and suppliers.
  • Launched a weekly column on local employment that readers now send ideas to.
  • Produced short videos and live coverage of municipal council meetings.
  • Trained two interns in the agency on verification and local sources.

Resume headlines

  • Journalist | Regional Daily, Local News, Web and Print
  • Journaliste pigiste | Economics and Labour, Long-form Reporting
  • Multimedia Journalist | Video, Live Coverage, Social Media

Summaries for your profile

Entry level

Journalist trained at [school] with internships at [regional newspaper] and [radio station]. I covered local news, court hearings and sports, wrote for print and web, and edited short videos on mobile.

Experienced

Journaliste with [x] years at [newspaper], covering economics and labour issues in [region]. I hold a press card, have built a network of company and union sources, and lead an investigation team on the regional industrial sector.

Career change

Former nurse turned health journalist after a postgraduate journalism programme. My clinical experience lets me read medical studies critically and talk with caregivers and patients in a way that earns their trust.

Tips

  • Link to a selection of published pieces, ideally with dates and outlets.
  • Mention your beat and the territory you know well.
  • List the formats you can deliver: text, photo, video, podcast, live.
  • Note your press card number if you hold one.
  • For freelance work, list regular outlets rather than every one-off piece.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Sending a CV without links to published work.
  • Listing internships without the subjects you covered.
  • Claiming investigative work that was in fact desk rewriting.
  • Ignoring multimedia skills that newsrooms now expect.

Working as a journalist in France

Journalism is not a regulated profession in France: no diploma is legally required. Schools recognised by the profession (ESJ Lille, CFJ, IPJ, CELSA, IEP programmes and others) are highly competitive and offer strong newsroom networks. The press card (carte de presse) is issued by the CCIJP to those who earn most of their income from journalism. Pigistes are normally paid as employees under French press rules rather than as independent contractors. Fluent French is essential except in English-language outlets. Search for « journaliste », « rédacteur », « journaliste pigiste », « secrétaire de rédaction » or « journaliste reporter d'images (JRI) ».

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Frequently asked questions

What is a press card and do I need one?

The carte de presse is issued by the CCIJP to people whose main and regular paid activity is journalism in a press outlet or agency. It is not required to work, but it gives access to some events and signals professional status. You usually apply after a few months of regular paid work.

Should I go to a recognised journalism school?

Schools recognised by the profession, such as ESJ Lille, CFJ, IPJ or the IEP journalism programmes, open doors through internships and alumni networks. They are competitive. Many journalists come from other paths, but a strong portfolio and solid experience then matter even more.

How do I present pigiste work on a CV?

Group it under one heading like « Journaliste pigiste », with the period, the outlets you work for regularly and a few representative subjects. Add links to your best pieces. This shows continuity rather than a scattered list of commissions.

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