What's the difference between a columnist and a journalist?

Question

what jobs do they both do? & which one would be better to go into?

thankyou! :)

Answer 1

A columnist is a paid talking head to talk about whatever they want, and they have a dedicated section in a newspaper or website just for them. It's like a permanent soapbox.

A journalist is just a general broad term for someone who works in informational media doing writing, and reporting across the mediums, print, web, radio, television.

Answer 2

Technology News-http://livearticle.net/

Answer 3

It would be better to ask, "what's the difference between a reporter and a columnist," since both are journalists. A reporter is responsible for accurately and objectively reporting events, either as a general assignment reporter or on a specialized "beat" such as sports, business or politics.

A columnist usually interprets the events that the reporter has written about, sometimes with additional reporting or interviews of their own.

Reporter is the entry-level position. Once you gain credibility as a reporter, you may get offered a column.