A/L to TV News Editor — Broadcast Journalism

GCE A/L — Arts or Commerce Stream

A/L in Languages (Sinhala, English), Media Studies, or Commerce. Some journalists enter with Science stream too — story-finding ability matters more than stream. Strong written Sinhala and conversational English are the minimum requirement for local broadcast journalism.

SLPI Journalism Diploma / BCS Journalism Degree

Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) Diploma in Journalism (1 year, part-time or full-time) is the most recognised industry entry qualification. Alternatively, BA in Mass Communication from University of Kelaniya (most competitive), University of Colombo, or SLIIT. Private options: APIIT, CINEC. Some journalists join directly via newspapers and train on the job.

Junior Reporter / Trainee Journalist

First 2–3 years covering beats (courts, parliament, police, education) for a TV channel or newspaper. Works under an editor. Writes scripts, accompanies senior reporters, does social media updates. Key employers: Hiru News, Sirasa News, Ada Derana Online, Daily Mirror Digital, The Island.

Build Core Journalism Skills

Develop beat expertise, source cultivation, live reporting, camera-readiness, and digital skills (social media journalism, video editing basics, SEO writing). Attend SLPI advanced programmes. Learn to write for print, broadcast, and digital simultaneously.

Senior Reporter / On-Air Correspondent

Covers high-profile beats (parliament, president's office, military) independently. Appears on camera for live reports. 5–8 years experience typically. Can transition to news anchoring by developing on-air presence and voice training.

News Editor / Chief Sub-Editor

Runs the news desk — making editorial decisions on story priority, headline writing, managing a team of reporters, and signing off bulletins. Evening news at Hiru TV and Derana attract 2–3 million viewers. Salary LKR 80,000–180,000/month at senior editorial level.