ICFJ Google News Lab

The Digital Skill Set of a


Reporter

Investigating how media professionals worldwide are embracing the digital era

As we face a global media landscape rife with uncertainty and excitement, a comprehensive understanding of this new era and what it means for journalists has never been more urgent. How are journalists around the world keeping pace with the digital revolution?

To answer that question, the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) launched the first-ever global survey on the adoption of digital technologies in news media worldwide. The State of Technology in Global Newsrooms survey reached over 2,200 newsroom employees from 130 countries. Dive into the data below.

Digital Skills

While the classic traits of good journalism such as research, writing, and reporting skills, are still highly valued in the newsroom, previous studies indicate that journalists today are expected to bring a versatile set of skills to their newsrooms.

Previous Experience

The digital experience, skills and educational background that journalists bring to their newsrooms at the time of their hiring varies by region. What skills and experience do journalists in your region bring to their newsrooms?

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Regularly Used Digital Skills

We surveyed journalists on how frequently they are using 23 digital skills in their day-to-day work. How many of these skills are journalists in your region regularly using?

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Newsroom Training

On-the-job training is essential in the modern newsroom. At the same time, media professionals find it difficult to keep pace with the constantly changing training requirements of the digital age. What types of training are most valued by journalists in your region?

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Digital Tools

Journalists today have expansive digital options for reporting and sharing stories. Because of these new tools, they are able to collect new data, identify sources, verify information, post and share stories, and track and engage with audiences.

Gathering Information

Journalists have a wealth of new resources and tools to access information with relative ease. We asked them to tell us which tools they rely on to gather material for their stories. Find out how popular these information resources are across different regions.

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Engaging and Growing Audiences

Interacting with and growing audiences has become a mainstream practice among journalists. In today’s fast-paced and competitive media environment, journalists view audience engagement as critical to establishing a loyal following. So which tools are they using to reach and interact with their audiences?

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Cybersecurity

Information security has become a vital, if often sidelined, requirement of the modern newsroom. While recognizing the importance of securing their communication, journalists may be unaware of the options available or how to use them. How are journalists in your region securing their information?

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Social Media

Our study demonstrated the extent to which journalists are relying on social media tools in almost every aspect of their work. These ubiquitous tools are being used by media professionals worldwide to check for breaking news, keep in touch with audiences, find user-generated content and interview sources.

Social Media for Information Gathering & Reporting

A vast majority of journalists worldwide rely on social media to gather and report information. Find out which of these social media tools are the most popular among journalists across different regions.

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Social Media for Audience Engagement

Our survey showed that journalists are overwhelmingly more likely to use social media to engage their audiences than any other tool. Find out which social media tools are used more frequently for audience engagement in your region.

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Metrics

Audience analytics allow newsrooms to use quantitative data to analyze a wide range of user behaviors to help inform daily decisions and long-term goals. We surveyed newsroom managers and journalists on what kinds of metrics they are using to track audience behavior.

Data Analytics

News professionals today have a wealth of metrics available to them. We surveyed them on their use of 21 of these metrics. Find out which ones are the most important to journalists in your region and others.

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Whether you find yourself falling behind or blazing the trail of digital skills and tools, most of us can afford to become even more “digital” moving forward. Our industry is changing; let’s change with it.