correspondent

A correspondent is a journalist employed by a media organization to report news from a particular place or on a specific subject. The term typically refers to field reporters stationed away from the newsroom who produce reports, interviews, and analyses for newspapers, radio, television, or online outlets. The role has historical roots in the expansion of print media and news agencies in the 19th century, aided by telegraphy and distant correspondences.

Correspondents may specialize by beat or geography. Foreign correspondents report from overseas; war and conflict correspondents cover combat and security; political, business, science, crime, or sports correspondents focus on specialized beats. Some are staff reporters while others work as stringers or freelancers.

Responsibilities include planning coverage, gathering information through interviews, observation, and document review, verifying facts, writing reports or scripts, and filing copy under deadline. They collaborate with editors, photographers, camera crews, and translators to produce written articles, audio, or video packages for various platforms.

Risks and ethics are central concerns, including safety, access limitations, and editorial pressures. Journalistic standards emphasize accuracy, fair sourcing, attribution, and protection of confidential sources where possible. A career typically involves journalism education, internships, and field experience, with skills in reporting discipline, language, and multimedia production.