journalism position cover letter

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

from training.npr.org: https://training.npr.org/2021/03/05/how-to-write-a-cover-letter-for-a-public-media-job-or-internship/

• Style Guide

How to write a cover letter for a journalism job or internship

• More on Work and Careers
• Subscribe to Work and Careers

My letterhead doesn’t have to be fancy, it just has to exist!

Dear Specific Person Whose Name I Obtained, Showing I Have Reporting Skills,*

I am starting this cover letter with literally ANYTHING other than “I am applying for [job].” Also I’m not telling you how I found the job listing, unless someone influential told me to apply. Yes, I am defying the advice of my career center, professor and/or friend who is applying to law/automotive/sales jobs. And my name’s in the letterhead so I don’t need to mention it again.

Instead, I will use my first 100 words or less to tell you something interesting — yet relevant to the job — that will make you want to talk to me. Because that’s what this is all about: Scoring an interview so I can dazzle you! Maybe that thing will not be how I reported on a Sad Person and learned a Valuable Lesson About Journalism, though, because everyone is doing that and also this isn’t a college admissions essay.

Now, instead of listing ALL my awesome experiences and achievements, since they are already on my resume, I will look at the job requirements and curate accordingly. I will make clear how my experiences/achievements prepare me for this particular job , which I researched extensively to see what, exactly, it is! Because I’m definitely not applying for all 20 openings at your organization. Or maybe I am (Wait, you can see that in your recruitment software?!), but THIS is the job I REALLY want. And it’s not because I’m PERFECT for the position (pobody’s nerfect! haha) or a great fit (because what am I, jeans?).

Next I’ll tell you what I can do for your organization besides work hard and utilize my strong track record in communication skills and high proficiency with Microsoft Word! I will skip the part about how this will advance my goals, which are to grow in my career, master new skills and have health insurance. Rather, I’ll tell you how I will advance your goals.

I will not make this paragraph about how I love [station/show/podcast] because I grew up listening to it in the backseat of my parents’ car, nor will I remind you that your organization is an esteemed news outlet with high standards that serves the public. I will give examples of work you do that I liked (and why), preferably at least two. Oh yeah, and I def won’t tell you how much I love a podcast your competitor produces. (That would be silly, I say as I delete a reference to The Daily .) Nor will I confuse Idaho Matters and Talk of Iowa . Thank goodness I always ask someone to proofread my letters and they caught that embarrassing mistake!

After reviewing your job description, it’s clear that you’re looking for a candidate that is extremely familiar with the responsibilities associated with this role, and can perform them confidently. Given these requirements, I am certain that I have the necessary skills to successfully do the job adeptly and perform above expectations. What? I’d never cut and paste a paragraph I found in a random template ! You must have me confused with 40% of your applicant pool.

Finally, I will not use words more suited for accepting a marriage proposal to express my excitement about this job! Yes I would love it, be honored to have it and be passionate about every aspect of it! But I will use normal words. And, because I am not a free online career personality test, my ability to craft phrases like “successfully utilize my core competencies and soft skills in the workspace” will remain implied. In conclusion, I bet you’re aware I’m available for an interview at your convenience. Thank you for your consideration.

P.S. I saved this as a PDF so it will open in your browser, instead of a .docx file that will download and pollute your already-overflowing desktop. You’re welcome! Did you know I’m proficient in Microsoft Word?

How to make all-purpose letterhead

• Choose a sans-serif font with a heavy bold face. Proxima Nova is safe enough .
• Type your name. Make it between 25 and 30 points.
• Now choose a thinner version of your font.
• Type your email address, phone number and website URL. Separate them with this character: |
• Optionally, include your street address (but why?) and non-embarrassing social accounts.
• Make this stuff between 10 and 12 points.
• Feeling dangerous? Add a horizontal line!

How to add your signature

There are several phone apps that will “scan” a document:

Notes instructions (iOS) Dropbox instructions (iOS, Android) Any free scanning app in either app store

You don’t need photo editing software to crop your “scan.” Do this:

• Get the PDF or image created by the app onto your computer.
• Open the file in anything that opens files.
• Take a screenshot of just your signature. On a Mac, use Command-Shift-4 to do this. On a PC, use the Snipping Tool .
• Drag the screenshot into your document.

*Or team name  (updated 1/18/2022).

Holly J. Morris is the NPR Training team's Digital Journalism Trainer. 

We have a newsletter. Subscribe!

• Resume Templates Simple Professional Modern Creative View all
• Resume Examples Nurse Student Internship Teacher Accountant View all
• Resume Builder
• Cover Letter Templates Simple Professional Modern Creative View all
• Cover Letter Examples Nursing Administrative Assistant Internship Graduate Teacher View all
• Cover Letter Builder

Journalism cover letter example

They say a journalist is a machine that converts coffee into copy. The hours are long, the pay is low, but the satisfaction is eternal. Notice that the Justice Department didn’t bring down Richard Nixon — the Washington Post did. 

Journalists write the first draft of history. They keep us informed, entertained and outraged. They are educated, intelligent, witty and nosy — they’re in the business of asking questions that are none of their business. They have long memories, short fuses, and a low tolerance for lies.

Journalism has undergone changes like few other professions, from the ink-stained wretches of the 19th century to the radio reporters of World War II to the network stars of CNN to the self-appointed blogger outing bad behavior on his block in the 2020s.

The advent of the internet sent print journalism into a tailspin not long after the year 2000. In the two decades since then, newspapers have seen massive layoffs, huge cutbacks and dizzying consolidations, and some have closed forever as the masses turned to online news sources. Broadcast news remains viable, but the days when you had to wait until 6 p.m. to find out what was going on in the world are forever gone.

Journalism in the 21st century is more democratic than ever — anyone can become a journalist, depending on how you define the word. Yet “old-school” journalists interested in the time-honored tradition of cultivating sources, reporting stories, pursuing investigations, and publishing or broadcasting the news should take heart from the fact that there are more venues, channels and platforms available to them than ever before. 

Did you ever see a news website that had no use for writers , editors, photographers, videographers, designers or artists? That website would be a totally blank page. The delivery vehicles have changed, but the need for content creators is greater than ever.

Which brings us to our current topic — how to get a job in journalism. In the old days, you might get your start by being a “copy boy.” Nowadays, you’re going to need a resume and a cover letter. 

You’ve come to the right place. Resume.io is a leading global provider of cover letter templates, online tools, as well as professional, occupation-specific cover letter examples to prepare them. And yes, many of our writers are (or used to be) stone-cold journalists.

For guidance on how to prepare your resume, consult our all-purpose guide on “How to write a resume.” But you’re going to need a proper journalism cover letter to go with it, and that’s what this article is about. The journalism cover letter example at the top provides a useful model.

What we’ll address here:

Why a journalist needs a cover letter

• How to structure your cover letter
• How to design an irresistible cover letter
• How to write a persuasive cover letter

Common mistakes to avoid

Let’s fire up the coffee pot and get started.

Most good journalists are good writers, even if they work as photographers, artists, designers or online producers. It’s rare to excel at anything in journalism without being a good writer, and we’re going to assume that’s what you are.

So you need to showcase your writing skills — and when applying for a job, there’s no better way to do that than in a cover letter. 

To be brutal, it would be insane to apply for a journalism job without a cover letter. It would be like entering a cake-baking competition without a cake. 

For a journalist, a cover letter literally demonstrates your skills at doing your job — being personable, making connections, telling stories, drawing conclusions, changing minds. It’s like a mathematician being asked to write an equation, or a chef to prepare a dish — it’s precisely what you do best. 

Even if you want to be a dog groomer, you need a cover letter — you can’t just demonstrate your skills by sending the employer a dog you groomed. But in journalism, you can and you must demonstrate your skills by sending a well-written, well-argued, well-designed cover letter proving from the get-go that you’re good at what you do. 

A recent survey of hiring managers found that one of the top reasons job applicants were ignored — in all fields — was their failure to include a cover letter. It’s an expected part of any job application, and if you don’t include one, you’re shooting yourself in the foot.

Best format for a journalism cover letter

If you’re a print reporter, you know the importance of structure — the lede, the nut graf, the body, the kicker. They say news stories are made up of notes, quotes and anecdotes, but they’re organized according to a coherent structure. 

Good journalism cover letters don’t happen by accident — they are deliberately structured to deliver the desired results. Follow this cover letter structure to make sure your story doesn’t lose its way:

Cover letter header

Cover letter greeting.

• Introduction
• Body of the letter
• Conclusion and call to action

This cover letter example for a journalism application will give you a starting point for your own letter:

Dear Mr. Hatherley,

Receiving my Story of the Year award from Dawson Heckham at the Sports News Awards made me understand just how much impact our words have on the soccer industry and its fan base. People love discussing sports, but they equally love reading an opinion and thinking through how their thoughts might differ.

Sports journalists help fans to relive those moments of magic through the medium of words, and with an average of 47.5m annual views of my articles, I hope that my six years at Soccer Media made an impact. A Senior Reporter position at a national publication would allow me to bring my unprecedented player and coach insights to a wider audience.

As a former academy soccer player and top college draft pick (while studying for a journalism degree), many of the biggest players have been my peers. My close relationships give me access to the stories behind what happens on the pitch. Anyone can understand that a goal is scored, but I explore the emotions behind the goals. I have broken some of the biggest soccer stories from the past years:

• Five exclusives exploring the development and player transfers of Miami United.
• Lead reporter for the soccer draft from 2017-2019, interviewing the future stars.
• My international expose around the agent bribery scandal won story of the year.

Prior to my journalism career, I worked for a leading MLS club as an assistant in their PR department for two years, running their blog as well as coordinating their press relations. I was one of the first in the industry to cultivate a successful social media presence.

I enclose a portfolio of my most popular articles for your interest and would welcome the opportunity to share my passion for the sport of soccer.

Travis Jenner

The top of your page must contain a header with your name, profession, address, phone and email. Omitting this info would be like printing a blank business card — nobody is ever going to know who you are, what you do or how to reach you.

Journalists understand the importance of good design, and that’s the second function of the header. When done right, it’s an attractive design element that makes the letter look good at a glance, before anyone has read the first word. This might mean a splash of color and/or creative use of typography, layout and white space. It should give the page an eye-pleasing look at arm’s length, prompting the reader to want to look closer.

Take a look at some of the free cover letter templates at resume.io to get an idea of what well-designed headers look like. Download one of these, enter your personal info, and you can save yourself a lot of trouble trying to design your own header.

Give your resume and cover letter a matching look

Your resume and cover letter should use the same fonts and formatting styles, and colors if any, so that’s it’s obvious they were designed by the same person and were meant to go together. 

This gives you a “visual brand” and shows that you pay attention to detail, you understand the importance of coherent design, and you aren’t just randomly experimenting with new fonts and styles. It also makes the hiring manager associate a certain visual style with your name.

“Dear John” is perhaps the most famous letter greeting ever, suggesting an imminent breakup, but yours can open the way to happier endings. “Dear Mr. X:” or “Dear Ms. Z:” are the traditional ways to open any business correspondence, including a journalism cover letter, and you should generally follow this format unless you have a good reason not to.

One thing is for sure: If your cover letter starts off with “Dear New York Times,” you are doomed. Whether you’re a film reviewer, an Africa correspondent or a digital graphics guru, you’re dead in the water if you haven’t even bothered to figure out which department to address your letter to, let alone who heads it. 

Do everything in your power to find out who makes the hiring decisions for the job you want, and address your letter to that person. If no names are listed in the job post you’re responding to, use your superpowers as a journalist to find out. If web sleuthing fails, try the old-fashioned telephone — just call and ask.

Cover letter introduction

It’s time to write your lede, which is the most important part of any story because it comes first. Every day, millions of people scan news stories in print and online deciding whether to read them by glancing only at the first paragraph. If it grabs them, you’re in; if it doesn’t, they’ll move on.

You may need to devote more effort to your first paragraph than to the rest of the letter combined. Every good story needs a strong beginning, middle and end. If you’re only good at the middle and the end, you’re in trouble, because nobody will get past the beginning.

Do not open by saying “I’m writing this letter…” — the reader already knows you’re writing this letter. Do not say, “Please consider this letter my application for…” — just start writing the letter. Use active, provocative, interesting language that makes the reader want to keep reading. 

Here’s an example of a journalist cover letter intro that really grabs attention:

Cover letter body

The best anecdotal lede fizzles out if you don’t get to the meat of the story soon. Some editors insist on a “nut graf,” one paragraph that describes the story in a nutshell, before it jumps to an inside page. 

The same is true of a journalism cover letter — once you’ve hooked the reader, you need to get down to business pretty fast. Think of USA Today, where most stories that begin on the front page have to end there too. 

In most cases, a cover letter should be a maximum of 400 words, contained to one page, and that requires extreme brevity. 

In the body of your letter, the central two or three paragraphs, you must present the “nutshell” of your case — why your experience, skills and passions make you the ideal candidate for this job. 

Experience is always key, so you must describe what you have done in this field to prove your chops. Don’t just describe where you worked or for how long, but tell stories about challenges you faced and how you overcame them. Be specific, using facts and figures wherever possible.

Sports journalists help fans to relive those moments of magic through the medium of words, and with an average of 47.5m annual views of my articles, I hope that my six years at Soccer Media made an impact. A Senior Reporter position at a national publication would allow me to bring my unprecedented player and coach insights to a wider audience. 

Cover letter conclusion

You want to end with a bang, not a whimper. You might offer a brief recap of what you’ve already said, and you might thank the reader for his or her time, but you must propose some kind of call to action. This can be as simple as saying that you’re looking forward to a response, or that you would be delighted to talk further about the skills you could bring to the table for the employer you’re targeting. 

End on a confident (but not arrogant) note, looking forward to continuing the conversation you’ve started. 

Cover letter sign-off

Close with a simple “Sincerely,” “All my best,” “Best regards,” or whatever sounds right, and then type your full name below that.

To see all of these structural elements in an actual one-page letter, take a look at the journalism cover letter sample above.

Cover letter for a journalist with no experience

A cover letter for a journalist with no experience requires a slightly different approach. It’s a tougher sell, but everyone has to start somewhere. If nobody could ever get a job without experience, then nobody on earth would have a job. 

To write a cover letter if you’re a journalist with no experience, emphasize any credentials you have that are relevant. Include links to stories/photos/artwork you’ve produced, even if you were unpaid. Accentuate your successes, no matter how modest. Focus on your education more than your experience. Talk about your passion for journalism, even if your credentials are slim, and sell yourself with your writing skills.

If you’re still in school, or you’re looking to change careers to go into journalism, simply say so. Remember that once upon a time, the editor you’re writing to had no experience either.

How to write a persuasive journalism cover letter

No journalist succeeds by writing something that nobody wants to read, and the same is true of writing a cover letter for journalism. You have to find your target audience, and in this case your target is a hiring manager looking to hire a reliable professional.

So you have to try to get inside this person’s head a bit. What are editors looking for? They’re looking for professional, competent journalists who can consistently deliver newsworthy stories. They’re not looking for self-important prima donnas who think they’re God’s gift to journalism. You need the editor to like you and to want to work with you. Nobody wants to hire somebody they don’t like.

So, not unlike a reporter working your sources, you need to try to fit in, to walk and talk like the people you’re trying to influence. You need to use a little psychology to “read the mind” of the people whose help you need, and to demonstrate that you belong in their world. A cops reporter we know once agreed to be tased in the middle of a police station, on video, with all the cops gleefully watching, and he was their hero from that day forward. 

Always remember that in a cover letter for journalism, you’re not trying to explain to anyone what you need or what you want. You’re trying to convince editors that they need you (or at least that they would benefit greatly from you on their team). 

If you look at the journalism cover letter sample above, you’ll see that the author is neither demanding a job nor begging for one, but demonstrating that he offers value to the news organization he seeks to represent. 

According to the great newsman Joseph Pulitzer, the three biggest imperatives in journalism are “accuracy, accuracy, accuracy!” Here are some mistakes you can’t afford to make:

• Typos, misspellings, bad grammar and other writing errors. Simple English mistakes in a one-page journalism cover letter can be instant disqualifiers.
• Cover letter clichés and lazy language. If you use trite, hackneyed phrases, like saying you “think outside the box,” this proves the exact opposite — that you are not an original thinker and that you just borrow your ideas from others.
• Copy-paste letters sent to all: Every journalism cover letter should be unique and tailored to a specific employer, discussing its specific needs.
• Terrible design: If your cover letter for journalism looks awful at a glance, with ugly fonts too small to read, tiny margins or other design flaws, few editors will take you seriously.

Key takeaways

• Journalists play a key role in informing, persuading and entertaining the public, and despite the massive upheaval in this sector in recent years, the world will always need journalists.
• For journalists seeking jobs, a well-written, well-designed resume and cover letter are an essential part of any job application.
• Like a well-structured story, a good journalism cover letter adheres to a well-designed framework.
• To write a successful application letter for a journalism position, you need to get inside the mind of the editor and deliver what that person wants to read, not just what you want to write.

You can avoid a multitude of errors by starting with a cover letter sample from resume.io, using a pre-formatted, pre-designed template where the structure and design are already done. All that’s left for you to do is to write the letter.

Here are other creative cover letters to inspire you:

• Freelancer cover letter sample
• Writer cover letter sample
• Public relations cover letter sample
• Social media manager cover letter sample

Free professionally designed templates

Build my resume

• Build a better resume in minutes
• Resume examples
• 2,000+ examples that work in 2024
• Resume templates
• Free templates for all levels
• Cover letters
• Cover letter generator
• It's like magic, we promise
• Cover letter examples
• Free downloads in Word & Docs

5 Journalism Cover Letter Examples Written for 2024

• Journalism Cover Letter
• Journalism Cover Letters By Experience
• Journalism Cover Letters By Role
• Write Your Journalism Cover Letter

You’re passionate about stories and providing accurate reports on the latest news. Publications will highly benefit from your research-driven and engaging writing style that brings articles and scripts to life.

Are your cover letter and complementary journalist resume ready to show why your writing skills are best for each publication’s needs?

You have the writing chops to create engaging content, so you probably just need a few pointers and guidelines to choose the right tone and skills as you create your cover letter . We’ll help you out with our journalism cover letter examples and cover letter generator that are consistently landing jobs at top media outlets.

Journalism Cover Letter Example

USE THIS TEMPLATE

Microsoft Word

Google Docs

Block Format

Copy this text for your Journalism cover letter!

123 Fictional Avenue Austin, TX 78701 (123) 456-7890

December 12, 2023

Ethan Anderson Dell Technologies 123 Fictional Lane Austin, TX 78701

Dear Mr. Anderson:

I’m eager to work with Dell Technologies and revolutionize the social media manager role. My passion for audience engagement, understanding of digital trends, and proficiency in multiple content platforms will empower me to guide your team toward exceptional digital accomplishments.

While serving as a social media specialist at HostGator, my proficiency in social media analytics grew exponentially. Using Hootsuite and Google Analytics, I led a team of six in measuring, analyzing, and interpreting social data to optimize the performance of our social media posts. As a result, we increased user interaction by 37%, and website traffic from social platforms saw an 18% climb.

My tenure as a social media strategist at Gembah allowed me to harness Canva and Adobe Creative Suite to generate visually compelling content. Collaborating with the design team, I standardized the visual narrative across all social platforms, which led to a 29% boost in brand visibility and a 23% rise in the follower base in less than a year.

As a social media coordinator at Outdoor Voices, a clothing store in Austin, I capitalized on paid social media advertising strategies, employing Facebook Ad Manager and LinkedIn Campaign Manager. Our team’s campaigns saw increased conversion rates by 42% and decreased the cost per acquisition by 33%.

I’m confident that my deftness in understanding audience behavior, creating engaging content, analyzing performance metrics, and strategizing paid promotions will harmonize with Dell Technology’s social media strategy. Thank you for considering me.

Mateo Rodriguez

Enclosures: Resume Application letter Letter of recommendation Transcript of records

Why this cover letter works

• Taking Mateo’s lead, show that Hootsuite, Google Analytics, Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, Facebook Ads, and LinkedIn Campaign Managers aren’t just software names for you. Describe how these tools were instrumental in your previous roles, whether they refined data analysis or performance optimization or aided visual content creation and ad management.

Level up your cover letter game

Relax! We’ll do the heavy lifting to write your cover letter in seconds.

Journalism Internship Cover Letter Example

Copy this text for your Journalism Internship cover letter!

123 Fictional Avenue Honolulu, HI 96801 (123) 456-7890

August 21, 2024

Leila Akbari Hawaii News Now 123 Fictional Lane Honolulu, HI 96801

Dear Ms. Akbari:

Given my robust background in information analysis and generating actionable insights, I am keen to contribute to the team at Hawaii News Now as a newsroom intern. My experience in data management and teamwork across diverse groups has fine-tuned my ability to support news production processes, ensuring the delivery of accurate and timely updates. I’m prepared to leverage my skills in research, content creation, and other essential newsroom duties to elevate the station’s coverage.

During my tenure at KHON2, I enhanced newsroom efficiency by implementing iNews, which markedly reduced weekly processing time from 17 to 11 hours. My expertise in Adobe Premiere Pro allowed for improved multimedia content production, and in my leadership capacity at HI Now, I spearheaded the creation of viral content and implemented SEO strategies, significantly increasing web traffic. Plus, experiences with digital tools like Audacity and WordPress have prepared me to generate and update compelling news stories across various platforms.

As a news reporter at KIKU in Hawaii, I managed live broadcasts, conducted field reporting, and oversaw social media strategy via Hootsuite. These responsibilities honed my writing, editing, and communication skills while emphasizing the importance of meeting rigorous deadlines—proficiencies I’m eager to bring to Hawaii News Now. My experience analyzing Nielsen ratings refined my analytical capabilities, guiding strategic content decisions that enhanced viewer engagement by 13% within six months.

I’m enthusiastic about contributing to your newsroom team by assisting in live broadcasts, script production, and administrative tasks. Additionally, the opportunity to participate in editorial briefings and training sessions resonates strongly with my ambition to continue enhancing my journalistic skills. I’m eager to explore how my background and abilities can be leveraged to further Hawaii News Now’s mission to provide comprehensive, accurate, and timely news coverage and uphold high standards of journalistic integrity.

Zoe Fischer

Enclosures Resume Transcript 2 letters of recommendation

• Now, when penning that journalism internship cover letter, take it as your stage to flaunt your familiarity with industry-relevant software. Perhaps, highlight how you’ve used Adobe Premiere Pro to craft killer content or how, with Audacity and WordPress in your toolkit, you’re equipped to churn out and polish up those compelling stories.

Broadcast Journalism Cover Letter Example

Copy this text for your Broadcast Journalism cover letter!

123 Fictional Avenue Boise, ID 83702 (123) 456-7890

Harper Liu KTVB 7 123 Fictional Lane Boise, ID 83702

Dear Ms. Liu:

My core strength lies in delivering impactful news that not only connects with viewers but also upholds the highest journalistic standards. With a solid background in broadcast journalism gleaned from roles at KBOI, Idaho Press, and Idaho Public Television, my experience is perfectly tailored to the dynamic and engaging news coverage that Idahoans appreciate. My proven live broadcasting and multimedia content creation expertise equip me to substantially contribute as a news anchor at KTVB 7, embodying and celebrating Idaho’s vibrant and unique spirit.

While at KBOI, implementing the iNews system incredibly boosted newsroom efficiency, which culminated in reduced production times and enhanced workflows. My expertise in multimedia content production, utilizing tools like Final Cut Pro and Avid Media Composer, surged viewership by 34% and audience engagement metrics by 47%.

Idaho Press provided an opportunity to spearhead viral video production and live streaming, driving a 44% surge in website traffic. I demonstrated proficiency with DSLR cameras and Facebook Live, facilitating a 39% growth in viewer retention. These achievements have sharpened my skills in delivering precise and influential news content, which I’ll carry forward to my role at KTVB 7.

A brief stint at Idaho Public Television refined my live reporting skills and ensured I maintained high broadcast standards. Leveraging tools such as PromptSmart for teleprompting and managing social media presence through Hootsuite, I contributed to a significant 22% uptick in audience retention. My focus on data and performance metrics was critical for tailoring content strategies that effectively heightened viewer engagement and satisfaction.

With a Bachelor of Media Arts degree from Boise State University and deeply committed to journalistic integrity, my immediate priority is to make a meaningful impact at KTVB 7. I invite you to connect with me at your earliest convenience for a deeper conversation about how my background and enthusiasm for news broadcasting can be a valuable addition to your team. Thank you for considering my application.

Enclosures: Resume Transcript 2 letters of recommendation

• A 4 or 5-paragraph cover letter spanning no more than a page is more than enough for a compelling narration of your career. The trick? Cut to the chase, use active (as opposed to passive) voice, do away with redundant and filler phrases like I think that… and steer clear of big words. It’s about sharpening your message.

Journalist Cover Letter Example

Copy this text for your Journalist cover letter!

123 Fictional Avenue Jacksonville, FL 32201 (123) 456-7890

Mia Thomas WJXT Channel 4 123 Fictional Lane Jacksonville, FL 32201

Dear Ms. Thomas:

Having seen the impact WJXT Channel 4’s reporting makes in Jacksonville, I felt instantly drawn to your open journalist position. Your news coverage doesn’t just inform; it tells stories that resonate with a diverse audience. As your journalist, I aim to bring engaging stories from our communities, accentuated by meticulous research and vivid multimedia support.

At Jacksonville’s own WJCT Public Media, I led a news podcasting initiative leveraging both my deep local knowledge and technical skills. With listenership growing by 32% under my stewardship, I ensured the content was not only interesting but also well-researched using powerful database tools like LexisNexis. This fostered a spike in listener engagement, with average episode dwell time increasing by about 17 minutes.

I diversified communication channels at W291CI as the social media executive, managing the company’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram profiles. By curating content, scheduling posts through Hootsuite, and analyzing performance metrics, engagement rates improved by 42%. More so, our followers grew by over a third, reaching 23k from 17k within two years.

While working at WAWS-MyTVJax, I also honed my video editing prowess, using Adobe Premiere Pro. My creative yet factual storytelling style was instrumental in raising viewer retention by 34% and growing our late-night segment viewership by 26%. Paired with my social media management skills, digital engagement on shared video content went up by an impressive 41%.

Believing firmly in the power of journalism to enlighten and unify communities, I’m particularly drawn to WJXT Channel 4’s commitment to comprehensive and responsible reporting. I cannot overstate how excited I would be to join your team and contribute to your already renowned storytelling culture. I look forward to further discussing how my skills, experiences, and tireless enthusiasm for journalism can be an asset to your esteemed channel.

Zara Jafari

• For example, If the hiring company’s news coverage has left an impact on you, do share that you’re looking forward to contributing to their commendable work quality.

Reporter Cover Letter Example

Copy this text for your Reporter cover letter!

123 Fictional Avenue San Francisco, CA 94101 (123) 456-7890

Harper White San Francisco Examiner 123 Fictional Lane San Francisco, CA 94101

Dear Ms. White:

My first encounter with the San Francisco Examiner was on a school field trip amidst observers at the iconic tech boom in the city. As I witnessed its on-the-pulse journalism first-hand, I quietly committed to one day becoming a contributor to your institution. That aspiration brings me here today as I express my interest in the reporter position at the San Francisco Examiner.

Podcasting has been my primary domain for the past three years at Jives Media, a thriving San Franciscan media company. I’ve turned mere static news stories into engaging, immersive experiences, successfully increasing our podcasts’ average listener duration by 37%. I’m adept at using Anchor, a Spotify-owned podcasting tool, enabling me to manage, distribute, and monetize our podcast content, leading to a 22% revenue increase.

At SWAYE, I harnessed the power of mobile journalism to bring news to audiences in real time. There, I produced more than nine live streams weekly, which improved the reach of news articles by 33%. Additionally, my expertise in live reporting and streaming saw me delivering breaking news with superior efficiency, surging our viewership by 28%.

A believer in the power of immersive storytelling, I embraced virtual reality (VR) reporting at Emergent VR, a pioneering VR startup. Using Unity, I created immersive journalistic experiences that led to a remarkable increase in our user engagement. This approach, I believe, will deeply resonate with the Examiner’s forward-thinking audience.

I’m eager to inject my diverse abilities and ground-breaking techniques into the San Francisco Examiner’s journalistic endeavors. My vibrant career has been driven by my overarching goal to innovate, engage, and inform. Looking forward to potentially discussing how I can contribute to the Examiner’s mission in an interview. Thank you.

Emilia Schmidt

• In this case, Emilia recounts a field trip to the San Francisco Examiner that exposed her to the mesmerizing world of real-time journalism. Alternatively, talk about an enthralling experience with the company’s software or equipment.

Related cover letter examples

• Journalist resume
• Social media manager

How to Format a Journalism Cover Letter

Writing your cover letter is like adding the right details to a news story to grab a target audience’s attention. 

In this case, it involves reviewing the job description to get an idea of each company’s needs so you can include the right skills and connections to their mission. For example, you could write about how you’ll use your interviewing skills to gather industry-leading details for a cutting-edge news outlet.

Journalism cover letter introduction

In journalism, the introduction is crucial to grab a reader’s attention. It works the same way in a cover letter. Ideally, you want to tailor it to the hiring manager by using your research skills to find the name of a contact person in the job description or on the company’s website to provide a personalized touch. 

Then, optimize your opening paragraph by connecting the top skills needed by each publication and how you’ll help achieve their mission. For example, you could include how you’ll use your data analysis skills to help a publication uphold its accuracy and integrity in the reporting space. 

The opener below gets off to a decent start. However, it could use extra details about the applicant’s specific journalism skills and how they connect with the company they’re applying to.

Not quite enough detail here! 

Upon coming across your publication’s journalism job opening, I was immediately eager to apply since this looks like a great company to work for. With tons of writing experience, I believe my skills will be an asset to your team.  

Instead, aim for an opener like the one below that shows the applicant’s passion for the impact WIXT Channel 4’s reporting makes and how their research and multimedia abilities fit in. 

A top-notch opener with relevant journalism skills! 

Dear Mr. Thomas,

Having seen the impact WIXT Channel 4’s reporting makes in Jacksonville, I felt instantly drawn to your open journalist position. Your news coverage doesn’t just inform; it tells stories that resonate with a diverse audience. As your journalist, I aim to bring engaging stories from our communities, accentuated by meticulous research and vivid multimedia support.

Journalism cover letter body

The body of your journalism cover letter is similar to the one in an article. You need facts and figures to back up your claims. In this case, it’s metrics and examples based on previous journalistic achievements. 

For example, you could write about how you optimized introductions to boost reader retention rates or applied a new data review model to boost reporting accuracy. 

If you don’t have much work experience , you can also add achievements from obtaining a journalism degree or transferable experiences like working on a school newspaper.

A great body paragraph with journalistic achievements!

At SWAYE, I harnessed the power of mobile journalism to bring news to audiences in real-time. There, I produced more than nine live streams weekly, which improved the reach of news articles by 33%. Additionally, my expertise in live reporting and streaming saw me delivering breaking news with superior efficiency, surging our viewership by 28%.

Journalism cover letter closing

Just as every article should have a conclusion that wraps up your key points, so should your journalism cover letter. This involves rephrasing your top skills and connection to the publication’s mission. For example, you could write about how you’re eager to use your social media skills to present up-to-date news to a broader audience.  

Then, wrap things up by saying thank you and using a call to action, such as “I’m excited to discuss this journalism role with you further.” It’s similar to ending a thought leadership piece where you want the reader to take a specific action. 

The closer below could use some work since it’s missing a call to action or any connection to the news outlet’s mission or the journalism skills they’re seeking.

Add more detail than this! 

I believe my skills will be a great fit for your news outlet’s needs. Thank you for considering me for the journalism role. 

Donna Mason

Instead, aim for a closer like the one below that showcases a great overview of the skills in content creation, performance metrics, and paid promotions that Dell Technology is seeking. 

A high-performing closer based on company needs! 

I’m confident that my deftness in understanding audience behavior, creating engaging content, analyzing performance metrics, and strategizing paid promotions will harmonize with Dell Technology’s social media strategy. Thank you for considering me.

The best way to optimize your tone will be to match the one used in the job description . It’ll help showcase how your writing style aligns with each publication’s culture and audience. 

One page will work best for your journalism cover letter. It’s similar to news stories where you want to include relevant information but keep it concise with the most essential details. In this case, it would be the skills needed for each role, such as editorial research or storytelling. 

Sometimes, media outlets and publications won’t have a hiring manager listed anywhere. So, simply using “Dear [name of company] hiring team” will still work well. Then, make the rest of your cover letter highly specific to the broadcasting and reporting skills they’re seeking. 

Journalist Cover Letter Example

Cover letter examples, cover letter guidelines, how to format an journalist cover letter, cover letter header, cover letter header examples for journalist, how to make your cover letter header stand out:, cover letter greeting, cover letter greeting examples for journalist, best cover letter greetings:, cover letter introduction, cover letter intro examples for journalist, how to make your cover letter intro stand out:, cover letter body, cover letter body examples for journalist, how to make your cover letter body stand out:, cover letter closing, cover letter closing paragraph examples for journalist, how to close your cover letter in a memorable way:, pair your cover letter with a foundational resume, key cover letter faqs for journalist.

Start your journalist cover letter by addressing the hiring manager directly, if possible. Then, introduce yourself and briefly mention the position you're applying for. For example, "Dear [Hiring Manager's Name], I am a seasoned journalist with over five years of experience in investigative reporting, and I am excited to apply for the [Job Title] position at [Company's Name]." This approach is professional and immediately communicates your interest in the role. Follow this with a compelling hook that highlights your most relevant achievements or experiences. This could be a significant story you've covered, an award you've won, or a unique skill you possess. This will grab the reader's attention and make them want to learn more about you.

The best way for journalists to end a cover letter is by expressing enthusiasm for the opportunity and a desire for further discussion. This can be done by saying something like, "I am excited about the possibility of contributing to your team and would welcome the opportunity to discuss my qualifications further." It's also important to thank the reader for their time and consideration. This shows respect and appreciation. Lastly, sign off professionally with "Sincerely" or "Best regards," followed by your name. This ending strikes a balance between professionalism and eagerness, which is crucial in the journalism field.

In a cover letter, journalists should include the following: 1. Contact Information: At the top of the letter, include your name, address, phone number, and email address. If you have a professional website or online portfolio, include that as well. 2. Salutation: Address the letter to a specific person if possible. If you can't find a specific name, use a general salutation like "Dear Hiring Manager." 3. Introduction: Start by introducing yourself and stating the position you're applying for. Mention where you found the job posting. 4. Body: This is where you sell yourself. Highlight your relevant skills, experiences, and achievements. As a journalist, you might want to discuss your ability to research and write stories, meet deadlines, and work under pressure. If you have any specializations (like investigative journalism or political reporting), mention them here. 5. Examples of Work: Provide examples of your work that demonstrate your skills. If you're applying for a print journalism job, for example, you might mention articles you've written that were particularly well-received. If you're applying for a broadcast journalism job, you could discuss a news segment you produced. 6. Knowledge about the Company: Show that you've done your homework. Mention something specific about the company or publication that you admire and explain how you could contribute to it. 7. Closing: In your closing paragraph, express your enthusiasm for the potential job opportunity. Thank the reader for their time and consideration. 8. Signature: End with a professional closing like "Sincerely" or "Best," followed by your name. Remember, a cover letter is your chance to make a strong first impression. It should be well-written, free of errors, and tailored to the specific job and company you're applying to.

Related Cover Letters for Journalist

Related resumes for journalist, try our ai cover letter generator.

8 Professional Journalist Cover Letter Examples for 2024

In your journalist cover letter, showcase your ability to tell a story compellingly. Highlight your knack for uncovering the truth and connecting with readers. Demonstrate your versatility across different media platforms. Your cover letter should also reflect your understanding of the ever-evolving journalistic landscape.

All cover letter examples in this guide

Student Journalist

News Director

Sports Journalist

Magazine Journalist

Broadcast Journalist

Multimedia Journalist

Fashion Journalist

Cover letter guide.

Journalist Cover Letter Sample

Cover Letter Format

Cover Letter Salutation

Cover Letter Introduction

Cover Letter Body

Cover Letter Closing

No Experience Journalist Cover Letter

Key Takeaways

By Experience

Crafting a journalist cover letter can be a daunting step in the job application process. You've meticulously updated your resume and now realize a cover letter is required—one that doesn't just mimic your resume, but spotlights your proudest journalistic triumph through an engaging narrative. Striking a balance between formality and originality, avoiding clichés, and condensing your story into a single page adds to the challenge. Let's navigate these hurdles together and pen a cover letter that stands out.

• Create a journalist cover letter to persuade the recruiters you're the best candidate for the role;
• Use industry-leading journalist cover letter templates and examples to save time;
• Dedicate your journalist cover letter space to your best achievement;
• Make sure your journalist cover letter meets recruiters' expectations and standards.

Avoid starting at the blank page for hours by using Enhancv's AI - just upload your resume and your journalist cover letter will be ready for you to (tweak and) submit for your dream job.

If the journalist isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:

• Journalist resume guide and example
• Voice Actor cover letter example
• Photographer cover letter example
• Model cover letter example
• Film Production cover letter example
• Video Producer cover letter example
• Wedding Photographer cover letter example
• Band Director cover letter example
• Fashion Stylist cover letter example
• Cinematographer cover letter example
• Actor cover letter example

Journalist cover letter example

San Francisco, CA

+1-(234)-555-1234

[email protected]

• Highlighting relevant experience such as the exclusive scoop on AI in autonomous vehicles showcases the candidate's ability to deliver impactful and newsworthy content, which is crucial for a journalist role.
• Emphasizing the results of the candidate's work, including the 30% increase in website traffic, demonstrates data-driven accomplishments and an understanding of audience engagement, both important for a digital publication.
• Expressing enthusiasm and alignment with the publication's standards and goals suggests a cultural fit and an appreciation of the company's values, making the candidate potentially more appealing to the hiring manager.

Structuring and formatting your journalist cover letter

Here's what the structure of your journalist cover letter should include:

• Header (with your name, the position you're applying for, and the date);
• Salutation (or greeting);
• Introductory paragraph (or your opening statement);
• Body paragraph (or further proof of your experience);
• Closing paragraph (with a call to action);
• Signature (that is optional).

Use the same font for your journalist resume and cover letter - modern fonts like Lato and Rubik would help you stand out.

Your journalist cover letter should be single-spaced and have a one-inch margins - this format is automatically set up in our cover letter templates and our cover letter builder .

When submitting your cover letter, always ensure it's in PDF, as this format keeps the information intact (and the quality of your document stays the same).

On one final note - the Applicant Tracker System (ATS or the software that is sometimes used to initially assess your application) won't read your journalist cover letter.

The top sections on a journalist cover letter

• Header: Include your contact information at the top of the cover letter so the recruiter can easily reach you; for journalists, having a professional header signals attention to presentation and detail, which are relevant to the role.
• Personalized Greeting: Research and use the name of the hiring manager or editor; personalization shows you've done your homework, an essential trait for a journalist.
• Introduction: Begin with a compelling hook and showcase your passion for journalism; this sets the tone and demonstrates your storytelling ability.
• Career Highlights: Detail relevant reporting experiences, key stories covered, or significant achievements in journalism; this section shows your practical expertise and credibility in the field.
• Closing Paragraph: Conclude with a strong finish, reiterating your enthusiasm for the position and explaining how you plan to contribute to their team; as a journalist, your concluding remarks should leave a lasting impression, prompting the recruiter to take action.

Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter

• Strong writing and storytelling skills: Demonstrates the ability to create compelling content that engages readers.
• Nose for news: Shows an instinct for digging up newsworthy stories that are relevant and interesting to the audience.
• Investigative research abilities: Reflects the capacity to conduct thorough and accurate research, crucial for credibility and in-depth reporting.
• Multimedia proficiency: Indicates the capability to use various platforms and tools, like video, audio, and social media, for modern, multi-channel journalism.
• Ethical integrity: Recruiters look for journalists who adhere to high ethical standards, maintaining trustworthiness and impartiality.
• Resilience under pressure: Illustrates the potential to perform efficiently against tight deadlines and in potentially stressful or dangerous situations.

Kick off your journalist cover letter: the salutation or greeting

When writing your journalist cover letter, remember that you're not writing for some complex AI or robot, but for actual human beings.

And recruiters, while on the lookout to understand your experience, would enjoy seeing a cover letter that is tailored to the role and addresses them . Personally.

So, if you haven't done so, invest some time in finding out who's the hiring manager for the role you're applying to. A good place to start would be LinkedIn and the corporate website.

Alternatively, you could also get in touch with the company to find out more information about the role and the name of the recruiter.

If you haven't met the hiring manager, yet, your journalist cover letter salutation should be on a last-name basis (e.g. "Dear Mr. Donaldson" or "Dear Ms. Estephan").

A good old, "Dear HR Professional" (or something along those lines) could work as your last resort if you're struggling to find out the recruiter's name.

List of salutations you can use

• Dear [Hiring Manager's Name],
• Dear [Editor-in-Chief's Name],
• Dear [Mr./Ms./Dr. Last Name],
• Dear [Publication Name] Team,
• Dear [Department Name] Search Committee,
• Dear [Hiring Manager's Title],

Your journalist cover letter intro: showing your interest in the role

On to the actual content of your journalist cover letter and the introductory paragraph .

The intro should be no more than two sentences long and presents you in the best light possible.

Use your journalist cover letter introduction to prove exactly what interests you in the role or organization. Is it the:

• Company culture;
• Growth opportunities;
• Projects and awards the team worked on/won in the past year;
• Specific technologies the department uses.

When writing your journalist cover letter intro, be precise and sound enthusiastic about the role.

Your introduction should hint to recruiters that you're excited about the opportunity and that you possess an array of soft skills, e.g. motivation, determination, work ethic, etc.

Storytelling in the middle (or body) of your journalist cover letter

You've got your whole resume sorted, detailing your achievements and skills. What else can you write in your journalist cover letter ?

For starters, take the time to re-assess the job requirements and re-discover the most crucial skills and requirements (or keywords).

After making a list of these important keywords, look back on your experience to select just one of your past accomplishments.

Choose the achievement that is the most noteworthy, relevant to the role, and matches the required skills.

Use the next between three and six paragraphs to narrate how:

• you've grown your skill set, thanks to your achievement;
• you'd use the know-how you've gained in your new role;
• your accomplishment could help your potential employers grow.

Remember that recruiters don't need a retelling of your whole resume, but want to find out what makes you, you.

Final words: writing your journalist cover letter closing paragraph

The final paragraph of your journalist cover letter allows you that one final chance to make a great first impression .

Instead of going straight to the "sincerely yours" ending, you can back up your skills with a promise of:

• how you see yourself growing into the role;
• the unique skills you'd bring to the organization.

Whatever you choose, always be specific (and remember to uphold your promise, once you land the role).

If this option doesn't seem that appealing to you, close off your journalist cover letter with a follow-up request.

You could even provide your availability for interviews so that the recruiters would be able to easily arrange your first meeting.

Which story should you tell in your journalist cover letter when you have zero experience

Candidates, lacking professional experience in the field - this one is for you.

Your journalist cover letter is an exercise of integrity, honesty, and, above all, spinning a positive narrative around your strengths.

And what better way to capture recruiters' attention than with your most job-relevant achievement (this could be from your internship or volunteering experience)?

Make sure to back up your success with transferrable skills that are relevant to the job (e.g. how your year, studying abroad, has taught you to be more motivated and handle multicultural environments).

Another safe card you can bet on is your career dream: in the body of your journalist cover letter, go into the details of how your ambitions would help make the company you're applying for better.

Key takeaways

Within this Enhancv guide, we've provided you with plenty of advice and inspiration on writing your journalist cover letter:

• Always make sure your journalist cover letter is tailored to the role you're applying for to make a good impression on recruiters;
• In your journalist cover letter include a header (with your name, the role you're applying for, date, and contact details) and an introduction of up to two sentences that highlight your key accomplishment or why you'd fit the role;
• Focus your journalist cover letter body on one sole achievement through your career and all the valuable lessons, skills, and know-how you've learned (that are relevant to the role);
• Ensure your journalist cover letter closing statement isn't generic and includes either a call to action or a promise;
• If you lack professional experience, shift recruiters' focus to a relevant achievement (thanks to your academic or versatile experience) or toward your dreams and goals for professional growth.

Journalist cover letter examples

Explore additional journalist cover letter samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.

Cover letter examples by industry

AI cover letter writer, powered by ChatGPT

Enhancv harnesses the capabilities of ChatGPT to provide a streamlined interface designed specifically focused on composing a compelling cover letter without the hassle of thinking about formatting and wording.

• Content tailored to the job posting you're applying for
• ChatGPT model specifically trained by Enhancv
• Lightning-fast responses

Santa Claus - the man who’s never changed his job

Resume keywords to land interviews and get hired, how can you reschedule your interview without ruining your chances, how to answer: "what's your biggest weakness" in an interview, mastering the 'sell me this pen' interview question, the best quotes to use on your resume.

• Create Resume
• Terms of Service
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Preferences
• Resume Examples
• Resume Templates
• AI Resume Builder
• Resume Summary Generator
• Resume Formats
• Resume Checker
• Resume Skills
• How to Write a Resume
• Modern Resume Templates
• Simple Resume Templates
• Cover Letter Builder
• Cover Letter Examples
• Cover Letter Templates
• Cover Letter Formats
• How to Write a Cover Letter
• Resume Guides
• Cover Letter Guides
• Job Interview Guides
• Job Interview Questions
• Career Resources
• Meet our customers
• Career resources
• English (UK)
• French (FR)
• German (DE)
• Spanish (ES)
• Swedish (SE)

© 2024 . All rights reserved.

Made with love by people who care.

WTO / Letters and Emails / Cover Letters / Journalism Cover Letter Examples

Journalism Cover Letter Examples

A journalism cover letter is a brief, formal letter that accompanies the resume of someone applying to be a journalist.

The cover letter usually includes information about the applicant’s qualifications, including their journalism experience, to show employers that they have the necessary skills, such as reporting, investigating, interviewing, etc., that are needed in a journalist.

The main purpose of a cover letter is to introduce the applicant to the potential employer and provide a summary of their background and qualifications. Therefore, it should be brief yet informative. The letter can be addressed to different individuals, such as an editor or reader at a particular media/publishing company, as well as any hiring managers for an individual position within that company.

It is an effective way of distinguishing yourself from other applicants with similar credentials. This can greatly boost your chances of securing the job, especially in entry-level positions .

In addition, writing a cover letter ensures you create a lasting impression on the employer by offering them additional information that was not communicated through your resume. As such, your cover letter will outline your specific skills with context, reasons why you want and qualify for the job, your contribution to your previous job position, and other details that illustrate your suitability and competency.

Often the personalization of the cover letter is advised. A personalized letter shows that you are dedicated to the job offered and are not just applying for the position with a generic journalism cover letter.

This article will competently guide you on how to write a solid journalism cover letter and offer examples of how to write its components and other informative details.

How to Professionally Format a Journalism Cover Letter

The format of a cover letter usually depends on the job description and its requirements. However, some standard formatting essentials will aid you in creating a professional cover letter. Knowing how to format a cover letter requires you to have an understanding of what information should be included in it.

Here are some tips and guidelines for professionally formatting a journalism cover letter:

• Use a one-inch margin on all sides.
• Ensure the spacing of the letter is 1 or 1.15. Also, leave empty spaces between sections of the letter and paragraphs.
• Write the letter in an elegant and professional font the same one that you used in your resume.
• Use a font size of between 11 to 12 points.
• Align the contents of the letter to the left.
• Maintain the length of the letter at a maximum of one page.

6 Steps to Writing a Good Journalism Cover Letter

If you are looking for work as a journalist, you will want to create a cover letter that shows your journalism experience as well as your interest in and suitability for the position. The cover letter should follow all of the standard rules for writing and formatting it.

The following are the six steps to follow when writing a good journalism cover letter:

Step 1: Briefly introduce yourself

Briefly mention who you are and the purpose of the letter, which is to apply for the journalist position. A strong introduction prepares the reader for what to expect in the cover letter. Mention the position you are applying for as well as an achievement or a testament to why you are suitable for the job.

I want to apply for the editor-in-chief position at your company. My work experience is as a full-time reporter and editor at The Phoenix. In addition, I was the assistant editor of The Drape Newspaper. I have also worked as a staff reporter for Sunlight Times and as a news editor at the local print publication, The Daily Journal. As such, I believe my vast experience qualifies me as a suitable candidate for the position.

Step 2: Show that you are the perfect candidate

The body paragraphs should include information about the applicant’s related experience or credentials that are relevant to the job description . Each point should be relevant. Look at the employer’s needs and expectations in the job description before you begin writing your cover letter.

This gives you an idea of the ideal candidate the employer is looking for. Ensure to check out each organization’s specific job description and what they are looking for in an employee.

Reference your portfolio. For example, if you have worked as a reporter or columnist for your school magazine or newspaper, then be sure to mention that in your cover letter by inserting relevant links. If you have received awards or professional accomplishments in journalism, be sure to mention them.

I worked as a news reporter and editor while attending New York State University, earning Outstanding Achievement awards for my work both in my journalism career and in other professional settings. I am currently a staff reporter at the local newspaper, The Flag News. In my recent seven months there, I have been able to conduct investigations into major crimes such as mass shootings and sexual assault. My local reporting experience has also prepared me to work with ABC Inc. as a journalist on investigative projects.

Step 3: Explain why you want the position

This is one of the key sections of the letter that should be highlighted. Explain how the opportunity to work for the employer would positively impact your career and personal growth in this step. You can achieve this by referencing any of the publisher’s past articles that have caught your attention and/or interest.

Show genuine interest in the organization and indicate your intentions to stay with them for a significant period by mentioning any long-term benefits you can gain from the job, for example, networking.  You can also achieve this by expressing shared professional beliefs and shared values.

This is one that should be highlighted. Explain this step. You can achieve this by referencing any of the publisher’s past articles that have caught your attention and/or interest.

Show genuine interest in the organization and indicate your intentions to stay with them for a significant period by mentioning any long-term benefits you can gain from the job, for example, networking. You can also achieve this by expressing shared professional beliefs and shared values.

As a journalist and editor, I have developed the skills to research, write, and publish investigative reports as well as more traditional news reports and stories. I also possess excellent interpersonal communication skills . I am familiar with modern journalism practices from my experience in online media and blogging, regularly contributing to sites including The Daily Journal, Sunlight Times, Blogging for Change, and others.

Step 4: Discuss what impact you can make on them 

In the body of your letter, you should focus on a few key points that demonstrate why you can be an asset to the company. It is important to address this by using examples from previous job positions and highlighting qualifications specifically in terms of the job description.

Quantify what you can do for them by referring to the achievements in the resume. Avoid reiterating your duties in detail and focus on the impact or results of your contributions at work. You can determine what to include by identifying the challenges the employer is currently facing and the primary job requirement. 

My work has been published widely in local newspapers. I intend to produce industry-standard publications. I’m able to produce 5 columns of reports per week. My ability to convey information guarantees to attract a wide audience and retain returning readers. I can bring my expertise in article blogging to help The Mirror News transition into online publishing.

Step 5: Show how passionate you are about the job

You should establish how serious you are about performing the job in addition to wanting to work for their organization. This is a good way to demonstrate your enthusiasm, which employers look for in their employees.

Demonstrate how you are driven by your career and ensure that you show your commitment by emphasizing how your background will positively contribute to the organization. Also, show how your goals and those of the organization align.

I enjoy working with companies such as yours that support the community’s interests by promoting positive solutions to social issues. I’d like to join your organization in informing your readers and ensuring the people have a voice and medium to reach authorities.

Step 6: Incorporate a call to action and sign off

The closing paragraph should re-emphasize why you are an ideal candidate for the job and how you would like to be contacted about an interview or job offer . This should be a call to action.

You can request a call or a meeting. This demonstrates that being hired will be more valuable to the organization than to you. Then sign off the letter with a complimentary close and your name.

I am highly motivated and eager to work with you and help build your business. If you’re interested in my application, please contact me at [email protected] for an interview.

Sincerely, Cindi Gibbons

Sample Cover Letter

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing to express my interest in the journalist position at NewsVoice Daily, as advertised on your website. With a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Springfield University and three years of experience in investigative reporting, I believe I am a strong candidate for this role.

At my current position at City Times, I have honed my skills in fact-checking, interviewing, and delivering compelling news stories under tight deadlines. My dedication to uncovering the truth and presenting it in an engaging manner has led to a 20% increase in readership for my column. I specialize in political reporting but have also covered a wide range of topics, from local events to international news.

What excites me most about the opportunity at NewsVoice Daily is your commitment to unbiased and impactful journalism. I am particularly impressed by your recent series on climate change, which not only informed the public but also initiated meaningful discussions. I am eager to bring my expertise in investigative journalism and my passion for storytelling to your esteemed publication.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of contributing to your team and am available for an interview at your earliest convenience. 

Jordan Smith

The cover letter provided serves as a practical example for writing a professional cover letter, specifically tailored for a journalism position. Its structure is logically divided into four distinct paragraphs, each serving a specific purpose, which provides a clear framework for conveying the necessary information. The first paragraph efficiently sets the context by stating the intent and the applicant’s relevant educational background. In the subsequent paragraphs, the focus shifts to the applicant’s professional experience and skills. Here, the writer effectively uses specific examples and quantifiable achievements, such as the increase in readership due to their contributions, which illustrates their competence and potential impact.

Key aspects to observe from this example include:

• Structured Approach: The letter is organized into an introduction, a detailed professional background, specific accomplishments, and a concluding section.
• Detail-Oriented Content: The writer provides detailed information about past experiences, demonstrating their skills and achievements.
• Relevance to Position: The letter specifically addresses the requirements and ethos of the prospective employer.
• Professional but Approachable Tone: While the language is formal and professional, it avoids being overly promotional, maintaining an informative yet approachable tone.
• Clear Conclusion: The writer ends the letter with an invitation for further discussion, which is a standard practice in cover letters.

This cover letter can be a useful guide for individuals looking to draft their cover letters for journalistic roles. It demonstrates how to present qualifications and experiences in a way that is both informative and aligned with the requirements of the prospective job.

Journalism Cover Letter Templates 

How Long Should a Journalism Cover Letter Be? 

An employer typically has limited time to go over the multiple cover letters they receive, so you should keep your cover letter to a maximum of one page. It should be clear and concise. Include a few relevant skills and noteworthy achievements to ensure the length is retained.

Key Takeaways

• A journalism cover letter is fundamentally a document that briefly introduces a candidate and their experience to the employer.
• It should have a concise introduction and body paragraphs that demonstrate your interest in the specific job, relevant skills and qualifications, and the impact you can make on the organization.
• They are often attached to CVs, which are mailed or delivered to employers.
• It should be brief, professional, and focused on attracting an employer.
• In the cover letter, you can reference the experience gained from writing news items from primary sources, conducting interviews, and editing news items for accuracy.

About This Article

Was this helpful?

Great! Tell us more about your experience

Not up to par help us fix it, keep reading.

Cover Letters , Letters and Emails

6 best library assistant cover letter examples.

18 Best Teaching Cover Letter Examples

Sample Cover Letter for Customer Service Representative

Cover Letters

Administrative assistant cover letter examples + tips.

Bookkeeper Cover Letter Examples [Tips + Free Templates]

Office Assistant Cover Letter Examples & Writing Tips

Cover Letter for Internship: Format & Examples

Managing Director Cover Letter (Example & Template)

Letters and Emails

Letter of authorization from property owner – samples.

Authorization , Forms

Free direct deposit authorization forms – pdf.

Letters and Emails , Resignation

Sample resignation letter (from part-time job).

Letters and Emails , Recommendation

20 perfect teacher recommendation letter samples, thank you for your feedback.

Your Voice, Our Progress. Your feedback matters a lot to us.

How to: write a covering letter and CV

Tips from editors and HR managers on how to apply for a job in journalism

Advice from employers on how to write a CV and covering letter for a job in journalism

• Local weekly newspaper for Canterbury, the Kentish Gazette, received 40 applications for a recently advertised reporter role.
• A freelance position at Journalism.co.uk received 82 applications (more on that later).
• Money Marketing receives between 20 and 100 applications when it recruits.
• The Telegraph receives around 75 to 100 applicants for a journalism role, a more specialised position such as a business reporter role generates around 40 applications.
• The Guardian expects between 100 and 120 applications for a typical reporter role. It can be up to 300. An entry-level position generates around 600 applicatons.
• An entry level BBC job leads to several hundred applications.
• The BBC trainee scheme receives several thousand applications.

Your job is to make yourself stand out. You'll do this through demonstrating your competencies, skills, experience, creativity, awareness of deadlines and understanding of news Daniell Morrisey, career writer and BBC talent executive

• Five applicants sent a CV with no covering letter.
• Six had significant spelling or grammatical errors.
• One made a mistake in the name of the person receiving applications (naming Mr Thompson Mr Thomas).
• 48 applicants did not specify skills in job description.
• 79 made no reference to key point in job description.

Always go back to the job description as your base. Think of the core competencies as headers – and consider using them as headers Daniell Morrisey

• Do send a covering letter, even if not asked for.
• Most employers will request that you submit applications by email. Paste the covering letter into the body of the email as this is your first opportunity to grab attention.
• Consider what you write in the subject line of the email.
• Address the recipient by name. If you do not know the recruiter's name or gender then find out.
• Follow instructions.
• If you are asked not to telephone the newsroom, do not call.
• Customise your covering letter. "We can spot blanket bombing a mile off," said Thompson, managing director of Journalism.co.uk.
• Be succinct. Write in single sentence paragraphs to demonstrate your skills as a journalist.
• Ensure you check, double check and get someone else to proof read your application to avoid errors. On the immediate reject list of the Kentish Gazette were "those who got my name, the name of the paper, or the spelling of Kent towns wrong", the title's editor, Leo Whitlock, explained. "Some were very obvious spelling mistakes, others which fell foul/fowl of spell checks/cheques. These put you off from the very beginning," he added.
• Even when journalists are at a level of experience that warrants an application to a national, grammatical errors and punctuation problems are not uncommon and this "upsets the challenge of getting through to the next phase of the application", Hammond from the Telegraph said.
• "Demonstrate enthusiasm and get across your passion for writing", advises editor of Money Marketing Paul McMillan. "It comes across when someone has those attributes."
• Focus on your experience that is relevant to the role, Hammond from the Telegraph said. If it is a sports or business role, for example, concentrate on demonstrating work in that area.
• Include links to your work. None of the applicants submitting covering letters and CVs for the position at the Kentish Gazette did this but it is something that would have impressed editor Leo Whitlock.
• Make sure the links guide the editor to your best work; do not highlight second-rate work.
• Suggest story ideas for the publication.
• If you are not living close to the location of the advertised position, explain that you are prepared to relocate and suggest the required notice period.
• Be aware of location when applying to local newspapers. "Ideally they would live in the patch," according to Whitlock from the Kentish Gazette. "It's not a deal maker for me but would be for some editors."
• Do not simply send a one line covering letter saying "this is my CV".
• Do not be too descriptive, advises Whitlock. Write a covering letter as you would a news story.
• Do not criticise a would-be employer by saying "your site is crap and I can make it better", warns Thompson.
• Do not expect the HR manager or editor to research you. "You have to make your case," says Thompson.
• "If you are rejected, take the news graciously", he adds. "Don't send stroppy emails – everyone knows every one else in this industry."

Remember that a CV is that your marketing document Daniell Morrisey

• Send your CV by PDF, advises Thompson. Some newsrooms will not have Word and unusual fonts and formatting can cause problems. Use the "save as" option within Open Office or a free service such as Zamzar to convert to PDF.
• "Don't just give the titles and dates, but give examples of stories you have worked on," suggests Paul McMillan, editor of Money Marketing.
• Make your CV easy to read by including bullet points, advises Morrisey. "Make sure it is easy to scan and that your experience, qualifications and skills are quite obvious. Avoid essays and avoid negativity."
• "Remember that a CV is that your marketing document," advises career writer and BBC talent executive Morrisey. "Don't list failed exams and there is no need to go overboard in explaining why you left a previous company as those questions can be asked later on."
• Be wary of the infographic CV. There are some great examples out there – and also some terrible ones. Perhaps the best place to include this CV format is on your blog or website.
• "Think about how your CV is going to be used. It will be photocopied so if sending a hard copy, avoid unusual papers such as acetates," Morrisey advised.
• Do not be too creative with the format. "Very occasionally this can be a good idea but it can go spectacularly wrong," he said, explaining that he once received a CV on a cushion.
• telegraph feed
• money marketing feed
• daniell morrisey feed
• how to feed
• john thompson feed

Free daily newsletter

If you like our news and feature articles, you can sign up to receive our free daily (Mon-Fri) email newsletter (mobile friendly).

Related articles

• How Reuters, Newsquest and BBC experiment with generative AI
• Standing out in a crowded market: what makes a top news podcast?
• How can UK commercial local news media respond to BBC expansion?
• Five alternatives to journalism internships
• European broadcasters must address on-screen diversity
• Our Newsletter:

Sign up to receive job alerts of your choice by email, or manage your subscription

• See all editorial courses

Freelancers for hire

Get ahead of the pack with our handy guides

• Create a killer CV
• Interview strategy

Learn how to keep the wolf from your door

• Starting out
• Get paid on time

A-Z lists of online style tips and terms

• Tips for online subs
• Journalism jargon

Featured recruiter: click to view its vacancies

Job of the week

UK-based publisher with a network of more than 70 sites focused mainly on sport and entertainment seeks an assistant director with previous leadership experience within an online football business

Featured jobs

Subscribe to our newsletter for latest news, tips, jobs and more

End that deadline stress today and find help in our freelance directory

PressGo: our press release distribution service

Pr of the week.

Personal trainer James Hilton has launched a podcast 'Jim's Gym - Inspiring Movement'. James, a specialist in biomechanics and injury recovery from the Cotswolds, runs Jim's Gym, a virtual online space supporting people over 55 to be more active

Join in the debates with other media pros on our online forum

Our next Newsrewired conference will be on 27 November 2024 at Events @ No6, London.

Get the knowledge

Journalism and media events in 2024

Conferences and study weeks are fantastic opportunities to get the latest updates on the industry and network with your peers

Journalism and media awards in 2024

Awards are a great way to have your hard work recognised by industry experts and celebrate your teams. Here is where you can apply

Who to follow: 27 women covering the independent publishing sector

If you find your social feeds a tad too heavy on men's voices, follow and connect with these fantastic women experts on indie media

Five audience growth and revenue strategies from outside the UK

How do you move print readers to digital? Are there other ways to hold on to subscribers besides a last-ditch deal?

• how-to guides
• expert comments
• terms and conditions
• privacy policy
• where else to find us
• full job listings
• advertise vacancies: how, why
• advertiser login / register
• jobseeker login / register
• sign up for job alerts
• get a journalist job
• releases by category
• about PressGo
• Press release alerts
• press release writing service
• PressGo guidelines
• ask a pr: journalist requests
• become a pr source

events and awards

• event listings
• award listings
• journalism/PR/media courses
• in-house training

freelancers

• find a freelancer
• edit your listing

twitter directory

• F/T UK journalists

• Skip to Content
• Skip to Main Navigation
• Skip to Search

Indiana University Indianapolis

Department of journalism and public relations.

Cover letters

A cover letter is a professional document that tells your interest in a particular position, highlights your qualifications and introduces your resumé. It should accompany your resumé whenever you are submitting your application materials to an employer, whether by regular mail or e-mail. Your cover letter is just as important as your resumé. It also is a sample of your writing.

Your cover letter should be:

• Targeted and tailored for each position you are applying for, not mass-produced. Mass produced generic cover letters addressed to To Whom it May Concern or Human Resources Manager will get about as much response as mail addressed to Occupant. Occasionally you have no choice but to use a general heading if you are responding to a blind job want ad that does not list a company name or address. In that case, the employer knows you have no choice.
• Personalized to the individual you will most likely be interviewing with (whenever possible)
• Accurate, error free, energetic, enthusiastic and concise
• Produced on high quality bond stationery that matches your resumé paper
• Signed by you

Also, don’t forget to:

• Match your cover letter and resumé paper
• Follow up as you specified in your cover letter

Outline of a Cover Letter

Your address City, state, zip Date

Name of contact person Title Organization Street address City, state, zip

Dear (contact person),

Opening Paragraph: Why writing? Capture interest!

• Strong opening sentences to make the reader want to continue reading.
• Name the job for which you are applying. Tell how you learned about it.
• Mention the name of a person (if any) who referred you to the organization.

Body Paragraph: Critical content section. Convince the reader of your skills.

• Acknowledge the skills required by the open position.
• State the skills/strengths you will bring to the job and that parallel those needed to fill the position.
• Give examples of skills and achievements and how they will transfer to the job.
• Comment on your knowledge of the company (its products, services or special projects) and why you are interested in working for it.

Closing Paragraph: Ask for interview and identify next step!

• Refer to enclosed resumé.
• Tell the contact person that you will call on a designated date. Also, state that you are available for a personal interview at her/his convenience.
• Make it easy for the person to contact you: list your phone number and times you can be reached. Even if it is on the resumé, list it here again.

Sincerely, (Respectfully, etc.)

(sign your name) Your name typed

Enclosures: resumé (work samples, transcript?)

MEDIA MATTERS BLOG

• Journalism students participate in WISH-TV internship program focused on producing
• IUPUI PRSSA elects 2023-’24 executive board
• Let’s Get Social: Journalism Students “Take Over” Department Instagram Feed
• Journalism students named finalists in statewide writing competition
• Journalism major takes on Liberal Arts “Digital Jag” role

Get the Reddit app

r/journalism is a community focused on the industry and practice of journalism (from the classroom to the newsroom).

How do you write a cover letter for a journalism job? What does your first sentence look like?

Do you write it like a straight cover letter and describe what skills and experience you have that they need methodically, or do you style it like a personal essay?

If I talk about where I worked and my degrees, it feels like I'm just writing a longer version of my resume and kind of dry.

If I spice it up and get creative, I feel like maybe I'm losing them and wasting time.

How do you approach writing a cover letter?

Do you try to hook them?

I am great at conveying other people's stories, just not my own story.

What do your first sentences look like?

By continuing, you agree to our User Agreement and acknowledge that you understand the Privacy Policy .

Enter the 6-digit code from your authenticator app

You’ve set up two-factor authentication for this account.

Enter a 6-digit backup code

Create your username and password.

Reddit is anonymous, so your username is what you’ll go by here. Choose wisely—because once you get a name, you can’t change it.

Reset your password

Enter your email address or username and we’ll send you a link to reset your password

Check your inbox

An email with a link to reset your password was sent to the email address associated with your account

Choose a Reddit account to continue

Jobscan > Cover Letter Writing Guide

How To Write A Cover Letter in 2024 (Expert Tips and Examples)

Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to write a cover letter that will get you noticed by recruiters.

Trusted by:

A survey revealed that 77% of recruiters prefer candidates who send in a cover letter, even if submitting it is optional. Additionally, 90% of executives consider cover letters invaluable when assessing job candidates.

So, if you think cover letters are no longer important and necessary in 2024, think again.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you write a cover letter that effectively sells your skills and professional experience, increases your chances of getting interviews, and gets your foot in the door.

Table of Contents

What is a cover letter and do you still need one in 2024?

A cover letter is a letter of introduction accompanying your resume that paints why you are the best person for the job, what you bring to the table, and how you can help move the company forward.

Is the cover letter dead? No! In fact, a recent study by ResumeLab revealed that 64% of job vacancies still require that you include a cover letter in your application and 83% of HR pros said that cover letters are important for their hiring decision.

The bottom line is that a cover letter is still a valuable piece of your job search collateral. Nail your cover letter and you could end up getting that dream job.

So what exactly do you need to accomplish in your cover letter?

What is the purpose of a cover letter?

According to 49% of HR managers , your cover letter is the second best way to call attention to your resume and distinguish yourself from other applicants.

So the main purpose of your cover letter is to compel the recruiter to read more about you on your resume and move you to the next part of the hiring process.

Further, according to award-winning resume expert Melanie Denny , your cover letter is your value proposition letter. It proves why you are the best candidate to address the company’s needs with the professional skills and qualifications to succeed in the job.

Here’s an example of a great cover letter:

Now let’s get into the details of what your cover letter needs to include.

Cover Letter Structure Checklist

Here’s a quick rundown of what you need to include in your cover letter.

• Contact Details Name Address (or City, State with zip code) Phone number Email address
• Greeting Whenever possible, address the hiring manager by name.
• Opening Who are you? What are your relevant skills and accomplishments?
• Body (1-2 paragraphs) What do you know about the company? Why are you applying for this job? What value can you bring to the company? Include measurable results when possible.
• Closing Reiterate your interest. Add a Call to Action. Mention any attachments. Use a professional sign-off like “Best” or “Sincerely” before your full name.

Here’s an example for the visual learners out there:

Now that you know the basics of what to include in your cover letter, let’s go through the process from start to finish to see how you can write a cover letter that will make you stand out from the rest of the candidates.

How to write a cover letter in 9 steps

It can be intimidating to try to parse down all your best qualities into a few quick paragraphs for your cover letter.

Here are 9 steps you can take to make sure you’re headed in the right direction:

Step 1. Do your research

Before writing your cover letter, thoroughly read the job description and the requirements for the job.

Melanie Denny , award-winning resume expert, likens the job description to your cover letter cheat sheet. And when checking the job description, she says you need to consider the following:

• What are the company’s priorities?
• What are their goals for the role?
• What outcomes and accomplishments in your previous roles match the goals?
• What are the key phrases and verbiage the company uses?

This will help you customize your cover letter, angle yourself and your narrative to fit the role better, and impress the hiring manager.

Try reaching out to the recruiter, hiring manager, or someone working in the company if you want more in-depth information about the company and the position you are applying for.

Step 2. Customize your cover letter for every job

Make sure your cover letter matches the job you are applying for. Writing a generic cover letter is a missed opportunity as this will not appeal to the recruiter or hiring manager. According to research from ResumeGo , 81% of HR professionals value job-specific cover letters over generic ones. Jobseekers who had tailored cover letters received a 53% higher callback rate compared to those who had no cover letter.

Remember, your cover letter is your chance to prove that you are passionate about working for a given company, so take the time to write a tailored cover letter for each position . You can do this by mentioning your skills and experience that are directly related to what’s mentioned in the job description. If you’re applying for a data analyst role that requires expertise in Microsoft Power BI, cite an example of a Power BI dashboard you built and how it helped the company.

Read our full guide: How to Optimize Your Cover Letter

Step 3. Include all of your contact info

You should make it easy for the hiring manager to reach you. In your cover letter, list these three things:

• Address (including zip code– for ATS purposes )
• Phone number with area code
• Email address
• Name of the Hiring Manager
• Name of the Company
• Address of the Company

Traditionally, your contact information is included in the upper left corner of your cover letter if you’re writing in a document. If you’re writing an email, this can be included beneath your signature at the end of the message.

Cover Letter Header Example:

Jane Jobscan Seattle, WA 98101 (555) 555-5555 • [email protected] linkedin.com/in/jane-jobscan

February 25, 2024

Lavinia Smith Hiring Manager Media Raven, Inc. Plantersville, MS 38862

Step 4. Address your cover letter to a real person

According to Melanie Denny, resume expert and President of Resume-Evolution, addressing your cover letter to a real person and addressing them by their name feels more personal and shows recruiters and hiring managers that you took time and did the research.

You can usually find the hiring manager’s name by searching the company website or LinkedIn profile, or by calling the company and asking which hiring manager is assigned to the particular position.

Once you learn the name, a simple greeting of “John” or “Hello John” is all you need.

If you can’t find the hiring manager’s name, you can use any of the following:

• Dear Hiring Manager
• Dear (Department) Team
• To whom it may concern

Read our full guide: How to Address a Cover Letter

Step 5. Write a strong opening statement

Melanie Denny suggests that you start your cover letter with a bang. This will hook the hiring manager’s interest and show them how you can be a valuable addition to the team.

Here are things you can do:

• Open with a thought-provoking question
• Make a big claim about what you can do for the company
• Say something relevant and specific to the company

For example,

“I want to bring the marketing department of Media Raven Inc. to the next level and help the company exceed goals and reach more customers as Marketing Manager.”

Step 6. Prove how your professional background and skills help the company in the body of your cover letter

Take advantage of this real estate and prove to the prospective employer how your background, values, and professional experiences position you as the best fit for what the role requires.

This is especially important if you are switching careers. Highlight your relevant accomplishments in your cover letter, showcase your transferable skills, and explain how you can help the company address its challenges and succeed.

For example:

“As the Director of Marketing at ABC Company since 2018, I directed all phases of both the creative and technical elements of marketing initiatives, including data mining, brand creation, print/web collateral development, lead generation, channel partner cultivation, customer segmentation/profiling, as well as CRM and acquisition strategies.

Perhaps most importantly, I offer a history of proven results, as evidenced by the following marketing accomplishments for my current employer:

• Captured a 28% expansion in customer base since 2018, achieved during a period of overall decline in the retail industry.
• Led national marketing campaign (comprised of trade shows, media, and PR initiatives) for my company’s newly launched technology services division
• Developed and executed SEO strategy that achieved and sustained top 3 rankings on Google (organic, nonpaid results) for key product search terms.
• Oversaw the creation of a new company logo and rebranded 100+ products to cement a cohesive corporate identity and support new company direction.”

Just like when writing a resume, your cover letter should only include the most relevant and positive information about you. To home in on the right skills and qualifications to mention, try scanning your cover letter .

Read our full guide: What Do You Put in a Cover Letter?

Step 7. Write a strong closing statement and a call to action

Use the closing of your cover letter to:

• Thank the hiring manager for their time
• Mention any attachments (resume, portfolio, samples)
• Invite to schedule an interview
• Let the hiring manager know that you will follow up

Keep the closing professional and try not to sound too eager since that can come off as desperate. You must also keep in mind the tone and personality of the company you’re communicating with.

“Given the opportunity, I’m confident I can achieve similar groundbreaking marketing results for Media Raven, Inc.

Ms. Smith, I would welcome the chance to discuss your marketing objectives and how I can help you attain them. Feel free to call me at (555) 555-5555 or email me at [email protected] to arrange a meeting. I look forward to speaking with you.”

Read our full guide: How to End a Cover Letter With a Call to Action

Step 8. End with a professional closing salutation

To finish out the closing , use a formal signature. You can use “Sincerely,” “Best,” “Regards,” “Yours,” or any other professional signoff.

Use your first and last name as your signature. If you’re sending your cover letter in the body of an email, make sure it’s your personal email account that does not list your current work signature beneath the email. Your other option is to write the cover letter in a word document, save it as a PDF, and attach it to your email.

Step 9. Optimize your cover letter for the ATS

The Applicant Tracking System or the ATS is a software that companies use to screen applications and shrink their pool of applicants. Through the ATS database, a recruiter or hiring manager can just search for specific skills and keywords and the ATS will return a list of the top candidates who match the search criteria.

To optimize your cover letter for ATS, you need to:

• Carefully read the job description
• Take note of skills and resume keywords frequently mentioned
• Incorporate these keywords into your cover letter

Read our full guide: How to Optimize Your Cover Letter to Beat the ATS

Does your cover letter pass the test?

Scan your cover letter to see how well it matches the job you're applying for. Optimize your cover letter and resume with Jobscan to get more interviews.

How to Format Your Cover Letter

A cover letter is a letter, but that doesn’t mean you should just plop everything onto the page in a stream-of-consciousness flow. After all, cover letter formats determine the order in which the hiring manager learns about you, which can significantly influence their first impression. Use the format order below as a guideline for building the structure of your cover letter.

Notice how the topics flow like a conversation? When you first meet someone, you introduce yourself, tell them your name and a little about yourself, and then leave the conversation open for future meetings.

Your cover letter is just a like having a conversation with someone for the first time. Keeping that in mind will help you to keep things simple and focus on the right information.

Below are some examples of how to format your cover letter for different types of applications.

How to format your cover letter for a job

• State your name
• Explain your work history
• Tell them what you can do for their company
• Say goodbye

How to format your cover letter for an internship

• Explain your coursework history and education
• Explain what you can gain professionally

How to format your cover letter with no experience

• Explain your skillset and character qualities that make you well-suited for the role
• Outline entry-level achievements

You can also check out our cover letter templates to help you as you write your own cover letter.

Do you want to save time and receive instant feedback on your cover letter? Check out Jobscan’s cover letter tool .

Read more : How to Write a Resume for Today’s Job Market

Cover Letter Examples

Here are some examples to help you create a cover letter that will make you stand out and give a strong first impression.

1. Internship Cover Letter Example

2. Career Change Cover Letter Example

3. Operations Manager Cover Letter Example

4. Communications Professional Cover Letter Example

5. Software Engineer Cover Letter Example

Cover Letter Do’s and Don’ts

Aside from the basic steps of how to write a cover letter, there are some things you definitely need to make sure you avoid – and things you can’t skip! Follow these do’s and don’ts for writing a cover letter, and you’ll end up with a much better result.

• Customize a cover letter for every job application that asks for one.
• Incorporate the top skills or keywords from the job description in your cover letter.
• Include the company name and address, the job title, and point of contact’s name on your cover letter.
• Incorporate relevant and compelling measurable results in your cover letter.
• Explain, briefly, any dramatic shifts in a career (i.e. you are changing industries or job titles).
• Use company information to relate your interest in the job.
• Keep your cover letter concise.
• Convey WHY you are right for the position.
• Use a cover letter unless one was requested.
• Attach a cover letter directly to your resume unless requested to do so.
• Use the same boilerplate cover letter for multiple job applications.
• Over-explain your work history, employment gaps, or qualifications – save it for the interview.
• Badmouth any of your past employers.
• Use the cover letter to complain or tell about your job search journey.
• Use non-standard formatting like tables, columns, or graphics. (ATS can’t read those and your cover letter copy might not be scannable by the system.)
• Use long paragraphs.

More Cover Letter Tips

• When emailing your cover letter, be strategic with your subject line. Never leave the subject line blank, and double-check for specific instructions in the job posting. If possible, use the email subject line to sell yourself. For example: “Experienced Software Engineer Seeks Senior Level Mobile Position.”
• Keep your cover letter brief and to the point. The hiring manager will be reading many cover letters. By carefully selecting your words and experiences to include, you can stand out from the crowd of applicants.
• Be confident. Let the hiring manager know the reasons why you deserve this position, and make yourself believe them too!
• Your cover letter should not be simply a rephrasing of your resume. Let your personality show and go into further detail about your most valuable skills and experiences.
• Do your research on the company and position before writing the cover letter. It should be customized to that specific company’s values and needs. Hiring managers can spot a generic resume from a mile away.
• Use the job posting as your guide for what topics, skills, and experience to focus on.
• The best cover letters include keywords from the job posting. Applicant tracking systems may scan your cover letter along with your resume and will be using these keywords to sort through the applicants.
• Check for spelling and grammar errors.
• Send your cover letter as a PDF to avoid readability issues and to present the most professional application package.
• Scan Your Cover Letter with Jobscan to make sure you’re checking all the boxes.

Optimize Your Cover Letter with Jobscan’s Cover Letter Scanner

In addition to resume scans, Jobscan Premium users can also scan their cover letters against a job description.

This generates a report of the top hard skills and soft skills found in the job description that should be included in your cover letter, plus additional checks for optimal length, contact information, measurable results, and more.

Here’s how it works:

Key Takeaways

Your cover letter gives recruiters, hiring managers, and prospective employers an overview of your professional qualifications and relevant accomplishments that position you as the best candidate for the job.

So you have to make your cover letter powerful and interesting enough to make the recruiter or hiring manager read your resume and move you to the next step of the hiring process.

Here are key pointers when writing your cover letter.

• Make sure you’ve read the job description and done your research about the company.
• Get to know the name of the recruiter or hiring manager so you can address your cover letter properly.
• Include relevant and measurable accomplishments in the body of your cover letter to prove to the hiring manager that you have what it takes to succeed in the job.
• Keep your cover letter short and concise.
• Your cover letter is not a substitute for your resume so don’t just copy and paste whatever is in your resume into your cover letter.

One last important reminder!

Having a strong cover letter is not enough. You also need to create a killer resume to make sure you stand out and land job interviews.

Learn more about writing a cover letter

How to Address a Cover Letter

10 Tips for Writing a Cover Letter

The Career Change Cover Letter: How to Get it Right

What Do You Put in a Cover Letter?

Is Your Cover Letter Robot-Approved?

How to End a Cover Letter with a Call to Action

Frequently asked questions, what are the different types of cover letters.

There are four types of cover letters.

• Application cover letter An application cover letter is what you send to the recruiter or hiring manager along with your resume.
• Prospecting cover letter You send this when you want to inquire prospective employers about open positions in their company or put yourself top-of-mind when they do decide to hire.
• Networking cover letter You will send this to professionals in your network in hopes of getting referrals, introductions, job search advice, and job opportunities.
• Career change cover letter This is what you send when you are switching careers or industries.

What tense should I use when writing a cover letter?

It can be appropriate to change tenses throughout your cover letter.

For example, you can explain who you are in the present tense and explain important aspects of your work history in the past tense. You can switch to future perfect tense when discussing the ways you would perform if given the position.

Think of it like this, “I am ABC, I did XYZ previously, and I look forward to doing EFG in this position.”

What to include in a cover letter

Our cover letter guidelines above explain how to write a cover letter more deeply, but in summary, you should always include your name, relevant work experience, and reasons why you are right for the job in your cover letter.

When not to include a cover letter

• When the job posting clearly states not to include a cover letter
• When you don’t have the time and energy to customize your cover letter. It’s better not to send a cover letter than to send a half-baked and mediocre one.
• When you are applying online and there is no field to upload your cover letter.
• When your cover letter has a lot of typos and errors.

What should you send first: a cover letter or a resume?

Typically, your cover letter and resume will be sent as a pair, but your cover letter is meant to be an introduction to your resume. If it is an email, use the cover letter in the body and attach your resume, otherwise, attach both.

Pro Tip: Be sure to review all instructions in the job description to follow the hiring manager’s requests.

How long should a cover letter be?

According to 70% of recruiters, a cover letter should not exceed 250 to 300 words.

Although there is no hard and fast rule about this, the ideal cover letter length should be around half a page to one full page in length to keep your message concise, clear, and easy to digest.

Should a cover letter be sent as a file attachment?

If it is not specified in the job posting, a cover letter can be sent either as an attachment (PDF is best) or in the body of an application email with your resume attached.

How to share a cover letter with a potential employer

There are several methods of sharing a cover letter with potential employers, depending on their application process.

Cover letters can be written on a document and turned into a PDF to be uploaded to a job application website or attached to an email along with your resume.

In other cases, your cover letter can simply be written in the email message to a hiring manager, with your resume attached.

How to title and save your cover letter

The key in every aspect of job applications is to make yourself an easy “yes” for your potential employer. That means making it easy for the hiring manager to keep track of your application materials for later review. With this in mind, make sure your full name and the phrase “cover letter” are included in the file label. Other helpful details might include the job title you’re applying for or the year of your application.

Here are a few examples:

• Your Name_Cover Letter_Job Title.pdf
• Cover Letter_Your Name_Job Title.pdf
• Job Title_Your Name_Cover Letter.pdf
• Your Name_Cover Letter_2024.pdf
• Cover Letter_Your Name_2024.pdf

Explore more cover letter resources

Cover Letter Formats

ATS-Optimized Cover Letter

Cover Letter Templates

Generate a personalized cover letter in as little as 5 seconds

Say goodbye to the stress of writing a cover letter from scratch. Our AI-powered cover letter generator uses GPT-4 technology to create a personalized and ATS-friendly cover letter in one click. Stand out from the competition and land more job interviews.

• Career Events

3 mistakes to avoid when writing your next development cover letter

During a recent event, development writing expert Kathryn Harper and career coach Caroline Korda Poole offered insights for professionals to optimize their job applications, including what not to do with their cover letters.

One of the job-hunting topics we get asked about the most from global development professionals may surprise you: the cover letter. In this age of LinkedIn and artificial intelligence, are they still necessary, and if so, how can you craft one that can actually make a difference in your application?

“It's a chance for candidates to really stand out by creating something that is unique that tells their own story,” said Caroline Korda Poole , a development career coach and founder of Centered Career , during a recent Devex Career digital event. “And they matter if the application asks for it, and they don't matter if the application doesn't ask for it,” she added.

In many cases, cover letters are still expected, and in some, they are mandatory, said development writing expert and founder of ParadiseScribe   Kathryn Harper , who joined Korda Poole to offer Devex Career Account members advice based on their work helping development professionals optimize their job applications and find the roles that best fit their interests and skills.

This article is exclusively for Career Account members.

Unlock this article now with a 15-day free trial of a Devex Career Account. With a Career Account subscription you will get:

• Full access to our jobs board, including over 1,000 exclusive jobs
• Your Devex profile highlighted in recruiter search results
• Connections to recruiters and industry experts through online and live Devex events
• Careers & Education
• Institutional Development

About the author

Justin Sablich JustinSablich

Search for articles, related jobs.

• ESSS (Environmental, Social, Health, and Safety) Expert Morocco
• Pool and Career Manager - Logistics Paths Switzerland
• Component Lead, MSME Competitiveness IBI USA (International Business Initiatives) El Salvador
• 1 Anatomy of a campaign: Digital activism as a tool for gender equality
• 2 Local startups are harnessing AI and new tech to take on TB
• 3 Why a gender lens is needed to tackle the roots of health inequity
• 4 Opinion: Health care has a responsibility to become sustainable
• 5 More than 200 Save the Children staff 'have lost trust' in leadership

Newsletters

This week in global development, localization, related stories.

Devex Career Hub: Why cover letters still matter in global development

Dos and don’ts of using AI in job applications

3 ways to future-proof your global development career

How to make a global development job hunt less stressful

• People Directory
• Safety at UD

• Resumes and Cover Letters

• Career Fairs and Events
• Appointments and Drop-Ins
• Career Access & Mobility Initiative
• Exploring Majors
• Funding and Grants
• Generative AI for Career Preparation
• Graduate and Postdoctoral Success
• Interviewing
• Job Shadow Program
• Life Design
• Agriculture and Natural Resources
• Arts and Sciences
• Business and Economics
• Earth, Ocean and Environment
• Education and Human Development
• Engineering
• Health Sciences
• Public Policy and Administration
• Search for Jobs and Internships
• For Employers
• For Faculty and Staff
• For Alumni ⇲

Handshake Login

A resume is a marketing tool and an extension of your professional brand. An effective resume showcases your experience, achievements and strengths, relating them to a specific position by using key words and highlighting relevant experiences. Remember, there is not one “correct” resume for you to use—the best resume is the one that clearly and effectively communicates your skills, abilities and future potential.

Resume Samples and Templates

Resume samples by industry.

• Arts, Media and Communication
• Business and Economics  (non-Lerner)
• Business and Economics  (Lerner)      
• Education and Helping Professions
• Engineering and Technology
• Life and Physical Sciences
• Federal resume

Resume Templates (editable)

• Resume Template 1
• Resume Template 2
• Resume Template 3

401 Academy Street Newark, DE 19716   [email protected] 302-831-2392

The Official Careers Website of the City of New York

Management Auditor, Level II

• Agency: POLICE DEPARTMENT
• Job type: Full-time

NYC-ALL BOROS

• Title Classification: Exam may be required

Deputy Comm Mgt & Budget Civ

Job Description

*Candidates must be permanent in the Management Auditor title or reachable on the civil service list. Please indicate this information in your cover letter. JOB DESCRIPTION: The mission of the New York City Police Department is to enhance the quality of life in New York City by working in partnership with the community to enforce the law, preserve peace, protect the people, reduce fear, and maintain order. The NYPD strives to foster a safe and fair city by incorporating Neighborhood Policing into all facets of Department operations, and solve the problems that create crime and disorder through an interdependent relationship between the people and its police, and by pioneering strategic innovation. The Bureau of Deputy Commissioner, Management of Budget ensures the financial strength of the Department through the judicious management and oversight of all Department budgeting, financial planning, procurement of goods and services, capital construction, property management, payment for expenditures, and the processing of contracts. The Fiscal Accountability Unit conducts financial audits of confidential expenditures, vendor audits, internal process reviews as well as other audits, as directed. In addition to the internal audits, FAU serves as a liaison for all external audits of the Department as well as the Engineering Audit Officer for the Department. The candidate will assist to conduct audit assignments while working under supervisor of the senior audit staff. The candidate will conduct audits in compliance with General Accepted Government Audit Standards (GAGAS). The position responsibilities will include evaluating the Agency’s compliance with established internal control procedures through the examination of records, reports, operating practices and documentation. They will complete the assigned segments of the audit program, preparing audit papers according to GAGAS and the tasks identified in the audit program. Specific tasks may involve: - Evaluate the design and operating effectiveness of internal controls. - Assist and perform end-to-end operations audits inclusive of planning, fieldwork and follow-up on identified findings or recommendations. - Determine the adequacy of controls and the reliability of operational and financial information to ensure the safeguarding of assets. - Review the Department’s financial data to ensure compliance with local laws and regulations as well as the Department’s internal policies and guidelines. - Create and present audit findings and recommendations based on the audits performed. WORK LOCATION: 375 Pearl St. 15th Fl WORK SCHEDULE: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: This position is open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a program. Please indicate in your cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position under the 55-a program. In compliance with Federal Law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document upon hire. The City of New York offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance for the employee and his or her spouse or domestic partner and unemancipated children under age 26, union benefits such as dental and vision coverage, paid annual leave and sick leave, paid holidays, a pension, and optional savings and pre-tax programs such as Deferred Compensation, IRA, and a flexible spending account.

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, accredited by regional, national, professional or specialized agencies recognized as accrediting bodies by the U.S. Secretary of Education and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) including or supplemented by 24 semester credits in accounting, including one course each in: advanced accounting, auditing, and cost accounting; and one of the following: (A) one year of full-time satisfactory experience in management auditing, financial auditing, and/or information technology (IT) auditing; or (B) a valid Certified Public Accountant license issued by the New York State Education Department; or (C) a valid Certified Internal Auditor certificate issued by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA); or 2. A satisfactory combination of education and/or experience equivalent to "1" above. Education and/or experience may be substituted as follows: (A) two years of full-time satisfactory experience in financial or managerial accounting may be substituted for the one year of experience described in "1(A)" above; (B) undergraduate or graduate credits from an accredited college or university, accredited by regional, national, professional or specialized agencies recognized as accrediting bodies by the U.S. Secretary of Education and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) in management, computer science, public administration, and/or business administration may be substituted for up to 9 semester credits in accounting, on a credit for credit basis. However, all candidates must have a baccalaureate degree including or supplemented by 15 semester credits in accounting, including one course each in advanced accounting, auditing, and cost accounting, and one of the following: at least one year of the experience described in "1(A)" above or its equivalent; or a Certified Public Accountant license; or a Certified Internal Auditor certificate, as described in "1(B)" or "1(C)" above. To be eligible for placement in Assignment Level II individuals must have, in addition to meeting the minimum requirements, at least one year of experience as a Management Auditor - Assignment I or at least two years of experience in management auditing, financial auditing, and/or information technology (IT) auditing.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

Civil service title

MANAGEMENT AUDITOR

Title classification

Competitive-1

Business title

Posted until

• Experience level: Experienced (non-manager)

Number of positions

Work location

375 Pearl Street

• Category: Finance, Accounting, & Procurement

• Work & Careers
• Life & Arts

Jobhunters flood recruiters with AI-generated CVs

To read this article for free, register for ft edit now.

Once registered, you can: • Read this article and many more, free for 30 days with no card details required • Enjoy 8 thought-provoking articles a day chosen for you by senior editors • Download the award-winning FT Edit app to access audio, saved articles and more

Explore more offers.

Then $75 per month. Complete digital access to quality FT journalism. Cancel anytime during your trial.

Standard Digital

Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device. Pay a year upfront and save 20%.

• Global news & analysis
• Expert opinion
• FT App on Android & iOS
• FT Edit app
• FirstFT: the day's biggest stories
• 20+ curated newsletters
• Follow topics & set alerts with myFT
• FT Videos & Podcasts

Premium Digital

Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders. Pay a year upfront and save 20%.

• 20 monthly gift articles to share
• Lex: FT's flagship investment column
• 15+ Premium newsletters by leading experts
• FT Digital Edition: our digitised print edition

Terms & Conditions apply

Explore our full range of subscriptions.

Why the ft.

See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times.