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Profession JRI–75 / Office & Professional

Will AI replace journalists?

Deciding what's worth covering, chasing leads, researching the background, and writing it for print or broadcast is reporting, work where AI mostly assists rather than replaces. Observed use bears that out, roughly 71% of use assisting the journalist, with models helping on transcription, research, and first drafts while the judgment stays human.

The risk spectrum — where Journalist sits
Journalist vs the 83 other jobs
Risk rank75 / 84
Automation timeline5-10 years
Median salary$62,200
Projected growth-3.9% (2024–34)
01 / Your plan

The skills that keep you relevant.

Picked to match what this role actually asks for — refreshed weekly, never by what a platform pays.

What you'll learn
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Updated Sep 21, 2026

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02 / Job market

Official outlook: shrinking.

Within the 84 professions
Salary$62,200
$31k$171k
Growth-3.9% (2024–34)
-25.9%33.5%

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a -3.9% change in employment for this occupation between 2024 and 2034, from a current base of 39,250 people employed earning a median of $62,200 a year.

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–34 & OEWS May 2025.

AI adoption in postings →

03 / Real salaries

Journalist salaries by city

Median pay from real records (H-1B filings and tech job postings), across the cities with most observations.

New York$80,392Washington$71,000Los Angeles$80,000

Range shows p25–p75; the dot is the median. Sources carry a documented bias — see the full salary page.

See real salaries →

04 / How to enter

How to become a journalist.

Typical preparation

Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

Education

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Experience

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.

Job training

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Getting in is one thing — the day-to-day runs on a specific set of tools and skills:

Foundations
Core skills

Full skill path with courses →

06 / FAQ

What people ask.

01Will AI replace journalists?
Current use leans toward assistance: roughly 71% of AI involvement aids the journalist, not replaces. Judgment, source development, and verification stay human. The industry faces a 3.9% decline by 2034 for 39,250 reporters, a trend that predates AI.
02How soon could AI change journalism work?
Workflow shifts could arrive within 5-10 years. Observed use shows 71% of AI involvement assists reporting rather than replacing it, so change may be gradual. Verification and source development remain high-demand skills during this transition.
03What skills keep Journalists relevant?
High-demand competencies include investigative and original reporting, plus verification and source development, both rated high. Data journalism is medium demand. Foundational entry skills like speaking, reading comprehension, and writing are also rated high.
04How does someone become a Journalist?
Most positions call for a four-year bachelor's degree, though some employers accept equivalent experience. High-demand entry skills are speaking, reading comprehension, and writing, all rated high.
05Is journalism a good career to start in 2026?
Entry in 2026 faces a shrinking field: a 3.9% decline to 39,250 reporters by 2034. Median annual pay is 62,200 dollars, and the role is classified as medium risk. Original reporting skills remain in high demand.
06What daily tasks do Journalists handle?
Daily tasks include writing commentaries, columns, or scripts, examining local and national news for story ideas, and analyzing information from various sources. Journalists also receive assignments or evaluate leads, and some coordinate or anchor broadcast programs. Adobe Photoshop and SPSS appear among typical tools.