Career Profile: Investigative Reporter
Whether it was reading my younger sister's diary or spying on my crazy neighbors whom I was convinced were axe murders, I have always had a natural calling for being a sleuth. In addition to my voyeuristic ways, I am also interested in current events and politics. As a result of these interests, I am interested in a career as an investigative reporter.
I interviewed Jilda Unruh, an Emmy winning investigative reporter at WPLG Channel 10 in Miami, FL, for some inside information on her line of work. As for preparation for the field, she said, " A solid, diverse education is more important than any particular major. Investigative reporting covers such a broad spectrum of topics that one must be comfortable in a variety for subjects." Ms. Unruh did not major in journalism, but said the writing and fact-finding skills taught in most undergraduate programs are helpful for writing effective scripts and interview questions. She did major in American History which...
Many investigative reporters, including Ms. Unruh, first worked as traditional reporters and anchors at local news stations. As an investigative reporter, one's most precious commodity is their contacts and sources. For this reason, aspiring investigative reporters usually work for a team of investigators with a variety of contacts until they develop their own. Most major news stations and newspapers have investigative reporters. Since there will always be news, there will always be a need for reporters. "Over 40 million people read newspapers in the United States each day and over 50 million people read magazines each week (The Princeton Review). Yet, competition in this field can be very fierce. According to the Indiana University…
