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A passion for news and a flair for storytelling are key traits of journalists

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<i>This story is part of the Globe Careers’ series looking at specific jobs, with their qualifications, descriptions, responsibilities and current salaries. For more, see our <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/topic/Salaries">Salaries series</a>.</i> <br><br><b>Job:</b> Journalist<br>Mihajlo Maricic/Getty Images/iStockphoto

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<b>Salary:</b><br> Starting at $25,000 to $40,000 and can reach into six figures depending the role, such as editor-in-chief at a large daily newspaper or a TV news anchor.<br>Getty Images/iStockphoto

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<b>Education:</b><br> There are no educational requirements to be a journalist.<br> However, increasingly, many have a journalism diploma or a degree.<br> Employers are often looking for a mix of education and life experience.<br>Brian Jackson/Getty Images/iStockphoto

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<b>The Job:</b><br> The job of a journalist is to collect facts and information from various sources and present it to an audience, either in print, broadcast or online.<br> “At the heart of it, a journalist is a storyteller,” says Hugo Rodrigues, president of the Canadian Association of Journalists.<br>Claudia Gabriela Tapuleasa/Getty Images/iStockphoto

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<b>Job Prospects:</b><br> Despite ongoing cutbacks in Canadian newsrooms: “Surprisingly, there are jobs out there for journalists,” says Mr. Rodrigues. <br>They may not be in the top cities, or at the pay level found in other professions, but he says jobs often come up due to high turnover. <br>Many are in smaller communities and available to those willing to juggle a number of roles.<br>Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail

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<b>Challenges:</b><br> People slamming doors in your face, calling you “a bunch of maggots,” and only wanting to share information that makes them look good. <br>Mr. Rodrigues says constantly changing technology is also a challenge. <br>Journalists also face challenges getting information as governments and corporations are making “a more conscientious effort” to control information.<br>Andrey Popov/Getty Images/iStockphoto

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<b>Why they do it:</b><br> Many journalists love current events and being part of history, writing or being in front of a camera.<br> “These are people who enjoy being a storyteller,” through different media, says Mr. Rodrigues. <br>Other motivations include helping people tell their stories, or bringing issues to light that have an impact on society.<br>Haider Yousuf/Getty Images/iStockphoto

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<b>Misconceptions:</b><br> That journalists are writing or telling stories to sell papers or gain viewers. “That’s the one that frustrates me the most,” says Mr. Rodrigues. <br>The majority of journalists don’t think about whether their story will “sell,” only if it will have an impact on their audience.<br>Toby Melville/Reuters

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<b>Give us the real scoop:</b><br><br>Are you a journalist in Canada?<br><br> Write a note in the comments area and tell us what you would tell others who are interested in the profession, or e-mail your comment to <a href="mailto:careerquestion@globeandmail.com">careerquestion@globeandmail.com</a> <br><br>Want to read more stories from our salaries series? <a href="http://www.tgam.ca/salaries">Click here.</a><br>Oleksiy Mark/Getty Images/iStockphoto

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