Fictional stories
There is no point in writing fictional stories if you want to be a journalist. This is journalism, not creative fiction. You must write about true events, with quotes from real people.
That said, the line between journalism and fiction is worth understanding.
In fiction, you invent characters, events and dialogue. In journalism, you report what actually happened, using real names, real quotes and verifiable facts. The moment you invent a quote or make up a character, you have crossed from journalism into fiction, and no editor will trust you again.
Some new writers think they can "dramatise" a real story by adding invented details. They cannot. Fabrication in journalism is a sacking offence. It has ended careers at the highest level. Jayson Blair at The New York Times, Janet Cooke at The Washington Post, they invented details and quotes, won praise, and then lost everything when the truth came out.
Does this mean journalism is dry and boring? Absolutely not. The best journalism reads like a novel. Gay Talese, Joan Didion, John Hersey - they wrote non-fiction that was as gripping as any thriller. But every word was true. Every quote was real. Every scene was observed, not invented.
If you want to write fiction, write fiction. There is nothing wrong with it. But do not confuse it with journalism, and do not try to smuggle fiction into your journalism. Editors can smell it. Readers deserve better.