Journalist
Inform, investigate, and hold power accountable - journalism is essential to Canadian democracy.
Journalist Salary in Canada
Journalists in Canada earn about $45,000 at entry level and around $95,000 in senior roles.
- Entry level: $45,000
- Senior level: $95,000
Broadcast journalists and senior writers earn more. Freelance income is highly variable.
About the Career
Traditional journalism has contracted significantly - digital and investigative journalism are growing.
Job Outlook
Competitive demand. Traditional journalism has contracted significantly - digital and investigative journalism are growing.
How to Get There
- 4-yr BA (Journalism) or any degree + journalism experience and portfolio
- Time to career: 4 years post-Grade 12
Degrees That Lead Here
- Journalism – high 70s to high 80s - portfolio component often required
- Communications – high 70s to high 80s
- Political Science – high 70s to high 80s
Key Skills
- Reporting & Interviewing
- Writing & Editing
- Fact-Checking
- Multimedia Production
- Ethical Judgment
Typical Employers
- Newsrooms (CBC & national outlets)
- Digital media companies
- Wire services
- Broadcast networks
- Freelance & independent media
High School Roadmap
- Write for your school newspaper. Follow Canadian journalism and read widely.
- Pitch stories to your school paper or a local community publication. Start a blog if you can.
- Research TMU's journalism program and Carleton's - both are highly regarded.
- Apply to journalism programs. Build a portfolio of published or written pieces.
Top Universities for This Path
- Toronto Metropolitan University – Toronto, ON
- Carleton University – Ottawa, ON
- University of British Columbia – Vancouver, BC
- Concordia University – Montreal, QC
- Western University – London, ON
Insider Tips
- TMU (Toronto Metropolitan University) and Carleton are Canada's most respected journalism schools.
- A strong portfolio of published work matters more than your university name for most journalism hiring.
- Digital journalism, data journalism, and investigative reporting are the growing areas in a contracting field.