About Journalist Jobs in Des Moines, IA
Des Moines Journalism Jobs Overview
In today’s culture of accelerated app usage, instant gratification, and clickbaiting for page views, journalists need to keep one underlying directive in mind: adaptation. There’s ever-growing competition for attention playing out in the digital space, with social media, legacy publications, and new media all battling it out. Hence, those who can integrate their journalistic acuity with tech proficiencies will get the best journalism jobs.
Do you have an inquisitive mind? Are you a good writer who isn’t afraid to ask tough questions and do the legwork? Do you enjoy delving into datasets to extract the right information? Then you may want to jump into a journalism career. Your daily schedule will have you pitching story ideas; researching documents and archives to synthesize facts; making calls to gather quotes or schedule interviews; hitting the field to observe and report; strapping yourself to your desk to pump out articles on-deadline; and working with your editor on revisions before going to press.
You can expand your search for media jobs by checking out these similar positions:
About Working in Des Moines, Iowa
If you don't live in Des Moines, cornfields may be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Iowa's capital city. But Des Moines is far more than prairies and farms. According to several rankings, Des Moines is among the best and safest places to live in the U.S., a great city for young professionals, and an affordable place to buy a first home. So, if you're thinking about looking for jobs in Des Moines, you're not alone!
Des Moines has a lot to offer residents. You can admire the breathtaking architecture of the State Capitol building, browse the displays at Des Moines Art Center, or take a scenic walk through Robert D. Ray Asian Gardens before eating a "Dead Moines burger" from Zombie Burger or a crab rangoon pizza from Fong. The vibrant Historic East Village located downtown is lined with more than 90 locally owned restaurants, bars, food trucks, and shops.
The unemployment rate in Des Moines is lower than the national average, and its job market is healthy in comparison to other similarly sized metro areas. To top it off, the cost of living is pretty low in Des Moines. Jobs can also be found in other nearby cities like West Des Moines, Ankeny, and Ames.
Update Your Des Moines Journalism Resume
Recruiters for journalism jobs will be looking for a particular set of accomplishments on your resume, so make sure to highlight the following:
- Interviewing skills (and whom you’ve already interviewed and/or profiled).
- The nature of your source list and how many contacts you have within certain industries.
- Any stories that you broke or scoops/exclusives that you brokered.
- Any awards you received for outstanding reporting.
If you’re already concentrating on any specific fields or subject matter, give some examples of how you’ve applied your expertise. But if you’re still feeling jammed, read through our reporter resume sample. You should also include a magnetic cover letter that outlines your journalistic ethos—everything from your storytelling approach and aptness for uncovering stories before others to your ability to protect sources and hold corruptors accountable. Get some pointers from our journalism cover letter.
How Much Do Journalism Jobs Pay in Des Moines, Iowa?
Got money on your mind? You should! Make sure you’re getting paid what you’re worth. Our Salary Tools can help you understand what you can expect to make in journalism jobs in Des Moines, Iowa, as well as the skills that can boost your value and what the next steps in your career might be. Right now, the median reporter pay in Des Moines is $37,472 per year, which is 9% lower than the national average.
Find Your Next Des Moines Journalism Job. Monster Can Help Get You Started
Are you prepared for a career in journalism? If so, set up your profile on Monster for free and begin clicking on those journalism jobs. When you sign up with us, you’ll receive custom job alerts and expert advice on how to negotiate your salary in Des Moines, how to nail your job interview, and more.