Journalist: Definition, Examples, and Usage

Meaning 1：news reporter (journalist)

journalist 🔊

/ˈdʒɜːrnəlɪst/

a person whose job is to report news for newspapers, magazines, radio, television, or websites.

Journalist asking question at press conference with microphone

news reporter 🔊

➕

/nuːz rɪˈpɔːrtər/

A person who gathers, writes, and reports news for various media outlets such as newspapers, magazines, radio, television, or online platforms.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From 'journal' (daily record) + '-ist' (person who does).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a 'journal' (diary) plus 'list' — a journalist lists the day's news.

📖 Example

The local journalist spent the day at the new city park, talking to families and writing about how it has improved community life. 🔊 The local journalist spent the day at the new city park, talking to families and writing about how it has improved community life.

🔗 Collocations

investigative journalist – A journalist who conducts in-depth research to uncover facts, often on corruption or crime.

freelance journalist – A journalist who works independently, not employed by a single news organization.

television journalist – A journalist who reports news specifically for TV broadcasts.

🔄 Synonyms

reporter (n.) – A person who reports news for a newspaper, radio, or TV station.

correspondent (n.) – A journalist who reports from a specific location or on a specialized topic.

newscaster (n.) – A person who presents news on television or radio.

🌱 Derivatives

journalism (n.) – The activity of collecting and presenting news.

journalistic (adj.) – Relating to journalists or their work.

journal (n.) – A daily record or a newspaper.

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'diurnalis' (daily) via French 'journal' (newspaper). First used in the late 17th century to describe writers for daily papers. Now central to media and democracy.