# journalist

/ˈdʒɝnəɫəst/ (US) · /dʒˈɜːnəlˌɪst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/journalist
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. news professional

noun · CEFR A2

a person who writes news stories or reports for newspapers, websites, or television.

For teachers: a professional who collects, writes, and edits news stories for publication or broadcast.

- The journalist interviewed the mayor for a story in the local newspaper.
- The investigative journalist spent several months uncovering the financial scandal before publishing the findings in a national broadsheet.

Usage: The noun is countable and often used with the preposition 'for' to indicate the employer.

### 2. diary writer

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

someone who keeps a personal journal or diary of their daily life.

For teachers: an individual who maintains a regular personal journal or diary.

- In the old novel, the main character was a dedicated journalist who wrote in her diary every night.
- The historian examined the private papers of the Victorian journalist, whose daily entries provided a vivid account of domestic life in London.

Teaching tip: This sense is rare in modern English; 'diarist' is the preferred term for someone who writes a personal journal.

## Examples

- The journalist interviewed the mayor about the new park.
- A local journalist spent weeks investigating the city's budget before publishing the final report.
- While some critics argue that the rise of social media has blurred professional lines, the role of the investigative journalist remains vital for holding powerful institutions accountable.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.