Journalism Cover Letter Example Guide [10+ Tips]

Journalism Cover Letter Example Guide [10+ Tips] In the era of #fakenews, unsupported claims all over media outlets, and cheap infotainment, its your role as a journalist to help people make sense of the world.Its no small task, but a noble one. You truly are on a mission.But whats the first step?Landing that journalist job.And its not easy. The field is shrinking so the competition is tougher than ever.To get your big career break, youll need a perfect journalism cover letter. And youve come to the right place to learn how to write one.This guide will show you a great journalism cover letter example. Plus, the best tips on how to write a professional journalist cover letter step by step.Want to write your journalism cover letter fast to make your job search so much easier? Cant be bothered with formatting a cover letter in Word?Use our cover letter builder. Choose from20+ professional cover letter templatesthat match your resume. See actionable examples and get expert tips along the way.Journalism Cover Letter for a ResumeSee more cover letter templates and create your cover letter here.One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is nowone pagelong, notthree. With the same stuff.Create your resume nowConsidering similar positions too? See other cover letter examples for jobs in your industry:Marketing Cover LetterMarketing Manager Cover LetterPublic Relations Cover LetterWant to explore your options further? See our full selection of cover letter examples for every career:Best Cover Letter Examples for All ProfessionsWell lead with this sample you can use as a point of reference.Journalism Cover Letter ExampleAnne JonesBusiness Writer, Journalist512-215-8219anne.jones@me.comlinkedin.com/in/annejones9@AnneFJonesAnytown, June 29, 2015Mr. Paul HunterEditor-in-chiefXYZ Magazine, 3025 Sunset Blvd., Suite 99New York City, NY 10723Dear Paul:I have been a long-term follower of your reporting and an admirer of the XYZ Magazines editorial excellence. When John Smith tol d me about the opening for Senior Reporter, Business Tech, at The XYZ Magazine and suggested I apply, I knew this was an opportunity where my writing can make a valuable contribution.Having 6 years of corporate PR experience in the private sector with ABC, as well as 4 years of experience as a Business Writer for Forbes and FastCompany, I am sure I can provide your readers with exclusive insights and cover stories that will amplify the impact of your publishing.Here are links to a few of my writing samples you might find interesting:House of Lie$ / A Pattern of Neglect: part of the series of 8 articles on New Jerseys dysfunctional real estate market; shortlisted for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting.Facebooks False Standards for Not Removing Multiple Deepfake VideosExploring the Oceans by Remote ControlI have attached my resume with detailed work history and portfolio.I would love to schedule a call to discuss how my expertise can help the XYZs Business Tech journalism m ake a lasting impact, both locally and nationally.Sincerely,Anne Jones512-215-8219anne.jones@me.comThats a brilliant cover letter for journalism (or any communications job for that matter).But what truly makes a good journalist cover letter?To find out, I asked Stephanie Vozza, a writer for FastCompany, Parade, Entrepreneur, and Inc., among other outlets.Always make a warm connection if possible, especially if you can be referred by a mutual friend. If you dont have that, simply introduce yourself and give a quick bio. Highlight your experience that would be most relevant to the outlet. Then, include three to five links to your samples. Close by asking to schedule a quick phone call and offer to send more information.Stephanie VozzaJournalist, Fast CompanySample cover letter and a matching resume made with our builder: See 20+ templates and create your cover letter here.To read a more comprehensive guide on cover letter writing, see our cover letter 101: Cover LetterThe Best Samples How to Write YoursWriting a cover letter for a journalist internship? Switch over toInternship Cover Letter Examples a Writing GuideAnd if you want some hints for writing a killer journalism resume, see our guide: Journalist Resume SampleNow, lets walk through writing a job-winning cover letter for journalist gigs step by step.How to Write a Journalism Cover Letter1. Use a good journalism cover letter formatMargins should be one-inch on all 4 sides.Go for 1 or 1.15 line spacing.Use an elegant, respectable typefacedigital hasnt killed the print star yet. Keep your font size between 11pt and 12pt.Read more: Cover Letter Formatting and Layout2. Create a professional journalism cover letter headerMake the header match the heading of your resume. Include your name, job title, and contact details: phone number, email, LinkedIn profile, Twitter.Below the header, put the city and date.Finally, include the inside address of the hiring manager.Learn more about crafting a good-looking headi ng for your journalist cover letter: Cover Letter Header ExamplesNot sure how to address your covering letter? See: To Whom and How to Address a Cover Letter (And How to Find the Contact Details)3. Begin your journalist cover letter with a personal greeting and a strong lead paragraphStart with Dear and address the reader by name.Introduce yourself and name the position youre targeting.Outline your relevant experience.Read more: Unforgettable Cover Letter Opening Lines4. Show that youre the perfect candidateInclude a few links to your relevant writing samples.If you have won awards or have other professional accomplishments, list them.According to the BLS data, jobs in journalism and reporting are in serious decline (a drop of 9% is projected in the following 10 years). A recent Pew Research Centers report indicates that the worst recession is going to hit newspaper newsroom employees. Does that mean your career is doomed? No! Consider joining a digital reporting team. Digital-nativ e employment has doubled in the past 10 years and you can expect continuous growth.Also, make sure to keep your journalist cover letter short. Anything from 180 and 250 words will do. Let your portfolio do the talking. Learn more here: Ideal Length for a Cover Letter5. Explain why you want inMake it clear that youre not simply desperate to get hired. Make them feel special.You can refer to some of their past articles youve found inspiring or make a connection on the grounds of shared values or professional beliefs.You want them to know youre likely to stay for quite some time and not jump ship whenever a new opportunity comes around.6. End with an offer and include a call to actionIts not about your personal benefit but about your employers gain.Emphasize that your expertise can help them.Ask for a meeting or a call to discuss what you can bring to the table.Read more: How to End a Cover Letter7. Put a professional sign-off at the bottomWrite your full name and include a copy of you r handwritten signature right above it.At the very bottom, you can retype your phone number and email address.And there you have it. Everything it takes to produce a perfect cover letter for journalists.But dont forget that to have a shot at that dream job, you still need to write a perfect resume.When making a resume in our builder, drag drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your resume here.Create my resume nowWhen youre done, Zetys resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.Thanks so much for reading. If you need further help, drop me a line in the comments, Ill be happy to chat. If you have some hot tips for writing journalist cover letters, dont hesitate to share them. Lets get the discussion started!