Reporters receive time off or are compensated for overtime and for special assignments that require them to work under hazardous or stressful conditions. Stringers are paid according to the size and type of news stories printed. Schedules depend on the newspaper's deadlines. Those on evening papers generally start early in the morning and finish in the early afternoon. Typing ability is essential and using computer terminals for word processing is almost always necessary.
Bilingual skills are necessary for some assignments.
At least some prior work experience on an actual publication is expected. Internships, work on school newspaper or as campus stringers are acceptable. A four-year degree is the minimum educational requirement. This is especially true in large metropolitan papers with reporter staffs which can easily be categorized according to academic specialties. Increasingly, large metropolitan papers prefer applicants with a master's degree.