Get Results With This Journalism Cover Letter Example

Journalism is all about how you can report on the world around you. Here’s a journalism cover letter example you can use to communicate your skills for a job opportunity.

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Journalism cover letter example

Journalism cover letter sample

One of the biggest values in journalism is your ability to tell news stories in a compelling way. That means your cover letter is actually a crucial component of your job application to be a journalist. Whether you’re planning to be a copywriter in journalism or a reporter in the field, there are a wide variety of ways to be a journalist, and all of them require specific skills. Your journalist cover letter should showcase the skills that best sell yourself. Here are some tips on how you can write a cover letter that ends your job search.

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Best journalism cover letter example

One of the best ways to write a cover letter is to use cover letter examples to understand what yours should look like. Here’s a cover letter sample that can help you catch the eye of a recruiter:

Dear Mr. Smith,

It wasn’t until I was in New York, standing in front of the Times Square ball at midnight on December 31, 2019, that I realised how much I absolutely loved journalism. Ever since, I have accrued plenty of journalistic experience, including covering protests in northern England and Parliament press conferences, but that moment covering the Times Square ball drop has always ranked as one of my favorites.

I have a dedication to covering the news, and I have never shied away from getting the most insightful observations in a situation, even when it has been difficult or dangerous to do so. No matter what, I believe that people should be able to know what’s going on in the world, and my past job positions have always relied on me to get the scoop when no one else could.

No matter where you need me, I love discovering new pieces of information that no one else can. I look forward to talking with you about some areas in your company’s news coverage that I believe I can significantly improve through my unique approach to gathering the news.

Sincerely,

Carrie Shoulders

This is a fairly short journalist cover letter example, but it’s an effective start, especially if you don’t know where to start with cover letter tips.

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Tips for writing your journalism cover letter using this example

Your first step should be a cover letter heading, which should include your full name, contact information including your phone number, and professional portfolio links such as your LinkedIn profile. If you’ve done a lot of freelance work, your LinkedIn can help a hiring manager see the experience that’s difficult to include in a CV. Then, you can move on to the rest of your cover letter.

First paragraph: Introduce yourself with a hook and list your best achievements.

The first paragraph needs to start with a hook that interests the hiring manager and makes them want to read more from your cover letter. In this example, the applicant discusses her favorite moment of her career – reporting on the Times Square ball drop for New Year’s Eve 2019. She also sneaks in the fact that she’s covered Southern California protests and White House press releases, adding to her credentials. This first section needs to encourage a hiring manager to keep reading, and a hook is the best way to do it.

Second paragraph: Give more information about how you’re the best fit for the job.

Now that you know the hiring manager is reading, it’s time to discuss why you’re perfect for the job posting. This job application may have been for a job title that’s constantly on the front lines, looking for the newest scoop, because the applicant brings attention back to the fact that she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get a great story, including potentially going into danger. She mentions that this is something past jobs relied on her for, something that the hiring manager might ask for references to verify. You can also mention your years of experience here. If you want to add more achievements, you can do so underneath this paragraph in bullet points.

Third paragraph: Call to action

The third paragraph is where you get to ask for a job interview. The applicant requests the job interview, saying, “I look forward to talking to you.” She even extends some extra information, stating that she hopes to talk about how the new job would help her benefit the entire company. Close your letter with a sign-off that’s formal and concise (e.g., “Regards”).

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FAQ: Journalism cover letters

Q: Do I actually need a cover letter to get a journalism job?

It’s always a good idea to write a cover letter for any job application, and journalism is certainly no different. Your cover letter allows you to show off your writing skills and directly argue for your ability to get the job title. If you’re uncertain about your ability to write a great cover letter, then use the CVHelp cover letter builder. It makes the process much simpler all around.

Q: How long should my cover letter be to get a journalism job?

On average, you should be writing between 3/4 of a page and half a page for a cover letter. This gives you enough space to talk about why you’re interested in the job without making it seem like you’re talking for too long. Additionally, it ensures that the cover letter isn’t too short, either, with a surplus of white space making you seem unqualified.

Q: Does this cover letter example work if I don’t have a lot of experience?

Even if you don’t have a lot of experience, you can still utilise this cover letter example. Just include the relevant experience that you do have. This may be academic experience, or volunteer or internship activities. No matter what your experience is, as long as it involves skills that can apply to journalism, use it in your CV.

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