About this template
The ATS Journalist template is a CV with a DM Serif Display identity and press-red accent, built like a newspaper masthead. Headlines stack with editorial weight while every byline-style detail still parses through ATS without losing a comma. The format clears Workday, SuccessFactors and Greenhouse ATS used by major newsrooms (The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Bloomberg), magazines (The Atlantic, The New Yorker, Wired, ProPublica) and digital newsrooms (Axios, Vox, BuzzFeed News legacy, Substack-native publications).
Who is it for?
It suits reporters, investigative journalists, news editors, foreign correspondents, broadcast and podcast hosts, and senior editors applying to newspapers, magazines, news agencies and digital newsrooms. Suitable for graduates of Columbia Journalism School, Northwestern Medill, City University London and Reuters Institute Oxford applying for their first staff role. Also fits accredited freelancers structuring their portfolio for a transition to a staff position.
How to use it
Three blocks structure the document — Editorial experience (with masthead, dominant format: long-form investigation, fact-checking, briefs, podcast, broadcast), Notable investigations and bylines (with date, masthead, downstream coverage), Education and certifications. List your press credential number in the header and the union if you are a member (NUJ, Society of Professional Journalists, IFJ). For freelancers, add a 'Regular mastheads' subsection with frequency (monthly, weekly, ad hoc). SEO long-tail: 'investigative journalist CV', 'freelance reporter resume template', 'foreign correspondent CV', 'magazine editor-in-chief resume', 'fact-checker journalist CV'.
Frequently asked questions
Should I include my press credential number?
Yes for any credentialed journalist — it is immediate proof of professional status and a screening criterion at editor-in-chief level. List the complete number, the year of first issue and current status (full member, probationary). For freelancers awaiting accreditation, mention 'application in review since [month/year]'. For journalists working internationally, mention the IFJ international press card if you hold one. The bare professional details settle the screening question in 5 seconds.
How do I present a long-form investigation in the CV?
Use a 'Notable investigations' subsection of 3 to 5 entries with the triplet title / masthead / outcome. For outcome, cite downstream coverage (picked up by AP/Reuters, cited in The New York Times, mentioned in a Congressional report), prizes won (Pulitzer, George Polk, Sigma Delta Chi, Livingston Award), or concrete impact (resignation, regulatory action, criminal investigation opened). Include permanent URLs (not shortened links that expire) or mention archive.org availability.
Does the template work for a broadcast application?
Yes, particularly for NPR, BBC News, PBS NewsHour, CNN, MSNBC and major podcast networks (Pushkin, Wondery, Pineapple Street). Reinforce the Experience section with broadcast formats mastered (long interview, live studio, filmed reportage, native podcast) and customary durations (4-minute spot, 20-minute segment, 52-minute magazine). Cite the equipment mastered (Adobe Audition, Reaper, Pro Tools, Premiere Pro editing) for hybrid journalist-producer profiles.
