What skills do you need to be a journalist?

I'm not sure if curiosity is a skill, but that is a big one: you need to have a desire to learn things or you'll be very bored with the work of a journalist.

You need to be organized and know how to make a plan. Information gathering can involve a good amount of planning and prioritizing your time, especially when you have a tight deadline to work with.

You need to be able to think on your feet, figure out how to get your questions answered, make calls that don't get ignored, send emails that don't get ignored, and boil all of the information you've gathered into an understandable story.

Also, importantly, you need to know how to convince an editor that what you're working on is worthwhile for publication in print and/or online.

Here is a list of the skills journalists need to get a job today in the order of the frequency they were mentioned by professors and professionals:

Ability to “think online” – the ability to adapt and learn as technology changes
Storytelling across mediums
Writing across platforms, including Web writing
Copy editing
Researching and guiding
Curiosity and healthy skepticism
Strong technical skills
Understanding of the changing media landscape and media consumption -}Ability to manage, moderate and participate in interactivity
Data management including interactive graphics, databases and mashups
Enterprise
Energy and passion

Good listener, good observational skills, make small talk to get someone to open up and talk to you. Writing quickly as someone speaks helps in interviewing people. Ask good follow up questions. Writing clearly and concisely. Be a good speller - spell check doesn't always catch errors. Keep a journal and start writing. Or start a blog and write and get the blog published.

Hi Mariana Great Career Choice! Great Question.
I have chosen some information online for you. Remember these things are not etched in stone. There are variables, You can always work behind the scenes too. This can be a fun rewarding job, that allows travel, excitement and reporting. So have fun with your choices.
Education
A bachelor's degree is necessary in this competitive profession. Journalism or communications should be your major, but it's a also good idea to minor in a specialized subject, such as political science or economics. A broad liberal arts background is required for a journalism degree, and many journalism programs require a concentration, such as electronic news or public affairs reporting, but a minor degree can give you an edge over other job seekers. For example, a journalism degree with a concentration in environmental reporting, along with a minor in a physical science, can prepare you well for science reporting.
Experience
You need some experience to get a job as a journalist, but you don't necessarily need a job to get experience. Many employers won't even look at your resume unless you have an internship listed. Your school career center can help you find internships and you can list them on your resume. Even if you intend to be a broadcast journalist, it's a good idea to have a portfolio of writing clips to demonstrate you understand how to report on the news. Join your college newspaper staff and look for summer employment with small, local newspapers, television or radio stations. Try freelance writing for online publications or local media outlets.

Related Reading: What Are the Advantages of Being a Journalist?
Skills
Top-notch communication skills are mandatory for journalists. If you plan on entering broadcast journalism, polish your verbal communication skills. Regardless of the type of media you're interested in, your written communication skills need to demonstrate excellent grammar and spelling, and that you can write about a subject clearly and concisely. Journalists spend a lot of time researching subjects using a wide range of sources, so knowledge of electronic databases and archiving systems is helpful. Comfort with technology, such as computer software, cameras and recorders, can make the job easier.
Abilities
The ability to think quickly and adapt to new situations is important in the fast-paced world of journalism. Being comfortable with people and able to conduct interviews, either on-screen or for a print article, is a necessity. Your interview subjects won't always be cooperative, so patience and tenacity are helpful. Logic and the ability to judge a potential story using critical thinking skills will help you avoid the mistake of publishing or airing an erroneous story that could land you and your employer in hot water. You'll have editors to help you avoid errors, regardless of the type of media you're working in, so be able to take and constructively use criticism.