Political Columnists and Writers
Overview
Introduction
Political columnists write opinion pieces about politics and government for publication in newspapers and magazines. Some columnists work for syndicates, which are organizations that sell articles to many media at once.
Political writers express, edit, promote, and interpret ideas and facts about politics and government in written form for newspapers, magazines, books, blogs, Web sites, and radio and television broadcasts.
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Like reporters salaries, the incomes of political columnists and writers vary greatly according to experience; newspaper, magazine, radio station, or television station size and location; and whether the columnist or writer is under a union contract.
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) classifies columnists with news analysts, reporters, and journalists, and reports that the median annual...
Work Environment
Most political columnists and writers work in newsrooms or offices. The atmosphere in a newsroom is generally fast paced and loud, so political columnists and writers must be able to concentrate and meet deadlines in this type of environment. Some political writers, especially those who are syndicated but not affiliated with a particular newspaper or magazine, work out of their homes or private...
Outlook
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) predicts that employment for reporters and correspondents (including political columnists) will decline by 3 percent from 2023 through 2033. Job opportunities for writers and authors who are employed by newspaper publishers are expected to decline by 19.4 percent from 2023 through 2033, according to the DOL. A slight employment decline is expected for writers ...
