A journalist is a professional who researches, writes and publishes information to inform the public about current events, issues and developments. The duties and responsibilities of a journalist include:

1. Research: Journalists gather information from a variety of sources, including interviews, public records, press releases and online research, to produce in-depth reports.
2. Interviews: They conduct interviews with experts, witnesses, affected parties or other relevant people to get different perspectives on an issue.
3. Article writing: Journalists write news articles, features, opinion pieces or reports that are clear, concise and engaging.
4. Fact-checking: They check the accuracy of the information they use to ensure that their reporting is credible and reliable.
5. Editing: Journalists edit their writing to improve it, shorten it or make sure it conforms to the publication’s style guidelines.
6. Reporting: They report on current events, whether political, economic, cultural, sporting or social, and convey the most important information to readers, viewers or listeners.
7. Multimedia production: In today’s media landscape, journalists often produce content for multiple platforms, including print, online, radio and television, using a variety of media formats such as text, photos, video and audio.
8. Crisis reporting: They report on emergencies, crises or significant events, often under pressure to provide up-to-date information quickly.
9. Ethics and responsibility: Journalists adhere to journalistic standards and ethical guidelines to ensure impartiality, fairness and accuracy in their reporting.
10. Engagement with the public: They interact with the readership via social media and other platforms to receive feedback and encourage dialogue.

Overall, a journalist plays a crucial role in a democratic society by providing information that enables citizens to make informed decisions and by acting as a check on institutions and power structures.