No one is born with the ability to effortlessly read from a teleprompter and appear to be just talking. It is a skill that is honed through many years of experience. Still, there are short cuts to attaining anchor proficiency. It is all about the tricks of the trade.
Don't waste your time listening to college journalism professors who never anchored a major market newscast in their life. If you want to be a real television news anchor, or just sound like one, learn from those who know what they are talking about.
How to Anchor a TV NewscastAnchoring a TV Newscast is very different than reporting for one. Anchoring involves very different skills than reporting. It is far more complex than simply reading and looking good. Anchors must be effective communicators while multitasking and processing an avalanche of information constantly bombarding them.
Don't try to sound like a television news anchor. Forget all the movie images and stereotypes you observed over the years. If you try to change your voice and delivery to sound like what you think an anchor sounds like, you will appear ridiculous. Good anchors deliver the news in a sincere and believable way. You still need to project and deliver with authority, but it should be in a natural way.
Connect with your stories. Anchors don't read, they communicate. You should know your material and be thinking about what you are saying while telling the story. If you are too focused on the words in front of you, it will sound like you are reading. If your teleprompter goes out, you will not know what you are talking about. Think about the story you are telling and you will be able to talk about it with confidence even if something goes wrong. Since things always go wrong during live newscasts, it is important for all anchors to develop ad lib skills. Read more on this on our Reading a Teleprompter page.
Know your material. A television news anchor is not just a nice looking talking head. A television news anchor is supposed to be a journalist first. Having strong reporting credentials is an essential prerequisite to being a respected television news anchor. Read more on this on our TV News Reporting page.
Tell your stories in an active voice. Have energy and enthusiasm in what you are talking about. Most viewers watch the news passively. They aren't paying much attention to what's going on. The TV is usually on in the background while they do something else. The anchor's job is to get a passive viewer to pay attention. Use that active persuasive voice to convince the audience that your story is worth listening to. This is not a stereotypical anchorman shout. It is an engaged delivery with energy. Read more about this on our page entitled, The Anchor Voice.
Relax. Anchoring isn't brain surgery. No one will die if you mess up. Viewers will sense your fear, so you must be at ease and natural. This is especially true when things go wrong during a newscast. The anchor must be calm and collected at all times. Good anchors keep going when there are problems and the audience often doesn't realize there was a mistake. Be the pillar of confidence especially while the world is crashing down around you.
Look the part. Viewers expect news anchors to exude confidence and class. Dress professionally not provocatively. Don't make your wardrobe the focus. Stick to solid colors with splashes of bright accessories, such as ties or jewelry. Avoid complex patterns and stripes. The camera doesn't like them. Hair and makeup should also be classy. If viewers tune in and immediately wonder what you did to your hair they won't be paying attention to what you are saying. Read more about this on our page entitled, The Anchor Look.
Be aware of the cameras. During a show you can pop up on camera any time. This is true while others are talking and even during commercials. Don't do or say anything that you don't want the whole world to observe. Always be aware of what camera shot is coming up next. You can make natural transitions turning from a two shot camera to your solo camera if you know what is expected. Nothing looks worse than an anchor reading to the wrong camera.
Work with your co-anchor. If you have a partner, it is important to make natural transitions when you hand off stories. Listen to what your co-anchor is saying. If you listen then you will have the appropriate tone of voice when transitioning to your story. It will be painfully obvious to viewers that you were not listening if you come off a tragic story sounding happy and insensitive. Listening also allows you to chat intelligently on two shots. Bad anchors say inappropriate things during two shots because they didn't listen to the story they are commenting on. Read more on this in the Working with a Co-Anchor article below.
Adapt to every situation. There are many things going on during a newscast. Breaking news, unpredictable television interviews, technical problems and unexpected glitches force anchors to constantly adjust. Anchors need to handle everything with grace and confidence. Don't get upset or frustrated. Viewers don't care why things go wrong. All they see is your melt down. They won't blame you for other people's mistakes as long as you seem to be taking it in stride. Remember, it is your face up there. Be above the fray.
Working With a Co-AnchorIt is difficult to be perceived as a good anchor if others around you are bad. If your co-anchor is unskilled, you will appear to be less talented. If your co-anchor is great, it will raise your game and make you look better. Every television news anchor is forced to work with co-anchors they hate at some point in their career. Since there is little you can do about this, you might as well make the best of it.
Get to know your co-anchor. You don't have to be buddies, but you should have a pleasant rapport on the air. During "cross talk," you should be able to chat about general things that the audience knows about both of you. At the very least you should be "work friends."
Position yourself to complement your co-anchor's position. Adjust the height of your chairs so that your shoulders are at the same level. Sit with your shoulders turned slightly toward your co-anchor.
Listen to your co-anchor. When your partner is reading, hear what he or she is saying. That way when you start your next story, your tone will be appropriate. It is obvious when an anchor isn't listening to a co-anchor. Their voice is often inappropriately jolly following a grim story or vice versa.
Look at your co-anchor. When you finish your story, look toward your co-anchor to "hand off" control of the show. When you follow your co-anchor, start by looking at him or her, then turn toward the camera. This makes for natural transitions. If all the anchors stare at the camera constantly, the show seems distant and cold. You will need to know your scripts well. This is because you will start talking while looking at your co-anchor and before you turn to the teleprompter.
Really talk to your co-anchor during "cross talk" in two shots. When anchor chat is forced, it is painful to watch. Have a genuine conversation with a co-anchor, and the chemistry will show. Remember to listen to what your co-anchor says and respond accordingly. Don't just wait for your turn to talk.
Take turns talking. Have a clear understanding of when each co-anchor should speak. For example, if one anchor reads the story leading into a two-shot, then the other anchor comments first. Arranging this ahead of time prevents you from talking at the same time.
Read your co-anchor's mind. When you work with a co-anchor for a long time you learn how they do things. You can predict how they will react in certain situations. This is valuable during breaking news or when the newscast is falling apart. A look or a tone of voice can be a cue from one anchor to another. Help each other when there are problems. Remember, you are a team.
It is important to share with your co-anchor. Forget petty rivalries. It doesn't matter who reads more stories or who gets the lead story more often. During breaking news evenly split up the available information. A selfish anchor will use all the information and leave her partner hanging. If you do that, your co-anchor will hate you and screw you over at their first opportunity.
Remember, there are times in every anchor's career when they must work with a co-anchor they dislike or who is incompetent. You do not get to choose whom you work with. You will be seen as a troublemaker if you complain to management. It is a much better strategy to do your best and let management see for themselves how uneven your skill levels are. If you resent the person sitting next to you, it will show on the air. Be professional and do your job, even if your partner doesn't know what he or she is doing.
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