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Journalism Cover Letter Template

Don’t forget to use the right cover letter format so that it looks professional.

Copy-paste Journalism Cover Letter (Text Format)

FIRST AND LAST NAME

Email: your.email@email.com

Phone: (123) 456-7891

Address: Street, City, State

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yourprofile

[Today’s Date]

[Hiring Manager’s Name]
123 Company Address
Company’s City, State, Zip Code
(xxx) xxx-xxxx
hiring.manager@gmail.com

Dear [Mr./Ms./Mx.] [Hiring Manager’s Last Name],

As an avid Seattle Times reader, I was excited to see your Staff Writer job listing on Indeed.com. I’ve been working with local publications for over five years, including the Ballard News-Tribune, Seattle Magazine, and many more in my experience as a freelance journalist. I’ve become particularly interested in reporting on local politics and would love the opportunity to further evolve as a political journalist at the Seattle Times.

During my years of experience, I have developed a reputation as a reliable, thorough, and even-handed journalist who is dedicated to high standards of quality and conduct. I’ve covered local politics for both Seattle Magazine and the Ballard News-Tribune, from district and city council meetings to mayoral elections. I’m passionate about ensuring the public is informed about all current events and their relevance.

Additionally, I’ve written articles for hundreds of publications, mostly focusing on key issues in the Pacific Northwest. I have experience creating journalistic content for a wide variety of formats, including video content for platforms such as Youtube and TikTok. Such experience has made me extremely adaptable and eager to take on new challenges.

I understand that print media is currently facing difficult times and will need to continue to adapt in the future. Given my wide array of experience with digital and print media and across various platforms, I’m confident that I’ll be an asset to the Seattle Times as a future-facing and growth-oriented team member.

I would love the opportunity to speak with you, and I look forward to making such arrangements. Along with my resume, I am attaching several clips for your perusal. Thank you greatly for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Average journalist salaries in the US

The following table includes information from O*NET Resource Center by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. The data is presented based on the top states by downloads in the USA.

Top 10 states by average journalist salary

StateSalary / Year
New York$293,430
District of Columbia$171,300
California$119,420
Connecticut$106,490
Georgia$89,690
Illinois$84,460
Nevada$81,990
Massachusetts$78,210
New Jersey$77,100
Tennessee$77,030
National Average$106,030

About the Author

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