The basic unit of newsgathering is still a person asking questions and checking answers. A reporter is a journalist whose primary job is to gather information and write or produce news stories for publication or broadcast.

Reporters work beats or general assignment, cultivate sources, attend events, examine documents, and file under deadline. They operate under editorial supervision and professional standards of accuracy and fairness. The role exists in every medium—print, television, radio, and digital.

Technology has changed tools and workflows, but the core tasks of observation, interviewing, and verification remain. A news organization’s reputation rests heavily on the daily work of its reporters. Strong reporting is still the foundation on which editing, presentation, and analysis are built.

• Journalist who gathers and presents news stories
• Works through interviews, documents, and observation
• Files under deadline and editorial standards
• Core role across all news media