The ABC of news anchoring: a guide for aspiring anchors 9788131773413, 9788131799727, 1241271291, 8131773418

Table of contents :
Cover......Page 1
Contents......Page 6
Foreword by Dr Prannoy Roy......Page 10
Need for This Book......Page 12
Basics of News Anchoring......Page 14
Chapter 1: A News Anchor Is Nota News Reader......Page 16
Chapter 2: Qualities of a Successful Anchor......Page 19
Knowledge of Current Affairs......Page 20
Understanding of News......Page 22
Intelligence......Page 23
Confidence......Page 25
Command over Language......Page 26
Impressive Personality......Page 28
A Good Voice......Page 29
Chapter 3: Challenges in News Anchoring......Page 31
The News Process......Page 35
Handle Breaking News......Page 36
Speak Extempore or Ad-lib......Page 42
Develop a Presence of Mind......Page 46
Build a Knowledge Bank......Page 49
Think on the Feet......Page 52
Maintain a Personal Touch......Page 55
Use Your Body Language......Page 56
Keep Eyes and Ears Open......Page 58
Keep Bias at Arms Length......Page 60
Anchoring from the Newsroom......Page 63
Anchoring from an Outdoor Location......Page 65
Sports Anchoring......Page 67
Business Anchoring......Page 70
Entertainment Anchoring......Page 72
Lifestyle Anchoring......Page 75
Weather Anchoring......Page 77
Chapter 7: Interviewing Guests......Page 80
Chapter 8: Conducting Phonos, OBs and Interviews......Page 83
Chapter 9: Panel Discussions and Talk Shows......Page 86
Chapter 10: Reading a Teleprompter......Page 88
Preparing for a Career in Anchoring......Page 92
Chapter 11: Brutal Truth About the Television News Business......Page 94
Chapter 12: Creating the Résumé and the Tape......Page 98
Chapter 13: Dressing Appropriately......Page 100
Chapter 14: Facing the Camera for the First Time......Page 102
Chapter 15: The Right Emotion for the Right Story......Page 104
On the Road to Being Successful......Page 106
Chapter 16: Anchoring Secrets......Page 108
Chapter 17: Avoiding Common Mistakes......Page 111
Chapter 18: Transitioning from Reporting to Anchoring......Page 113
Chapter 19: Recovering from Failure......Page 115
Chapter 20: Getting Better at Anchoring......Page 117
Chapter 21: Sustaining a News Anchoring Career......Page 119
Chapter 22: Learning on the Job......Page 121
Chapter 23: The Mantra for Success......Page 123
Experts Speak......Page 126
What Does One Need To Be a Successful News Anchor?......Page 128
My Mantra for Success......Page 129
How Can Aspiring Anchors Keep Themselves Updated?......Page 130
How Can Anchors Be Comfortable While Conducting Interviews?......Page 131
What Does It Take To Be a Business Anchor?......Page 132
How Do You Think Business Anchoring in India Has Developed over the Last Decade?......Page 133
How Does One Excel in This Specialized Field?......Page 135
Which Is the Best Moment of Your Being On-Air?......Page 136
Chapter 28: Television Reporting Versus Television Anchoring......Page 137
Chapter 29: Updating Your Anchoring Skills......Page 140
Chapter 30: The Daily Weather Update......Page 142
Important Terms......Page 144
Photographs Follow Page......Page 145

Citation preview

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The ABC of News Anchoring

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The ABC of News Anchoring A Guide for Aspiring Anchors

Richa Jain Kalra News Anchor, NDTV India

Foreword by Dr Prannoy Roy

Delhi

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Chennai

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Chandigarh

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The views and opinions expressed in this book are those of the author, and the facts are as reported by her. They do not necessarily represent the official position or the views of the publisher. Copyright © Richa Jain Kalra, 2012 Licensees of Pearson Education in South Asia No part of this eBook may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the publisher’s prior written consent. This eBook may or may not include all assets that were part of the print version. The publisher reserves the right to remove any material present in this eBook at any time. ISBN 9788131773413 eISBN 9788131799727 Head Office: A-8(A), Sector 62, Knowledge Boulevard, 7th Floor, NOIDA 201 309, India Registered Office: 11 Local Shopping Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi 110 017, India

Contents Foreword by Dr Prannoy Roy Need for This Book

ix xi

Basics of News Anchoring 1.

A News Anchor Is Not a News Reader

3

2.

Qualities of a Successful Anchor

6

3.

Challenges in News Anchoring

18

4.

An Anchor’s Role

22

5.

Anchoring from Different Locations

50

6.

Specialized Forms of Anchoring

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7.

Interviewing Guests

67

8.

Conducting Phonos, OBs and Interviews

70

9.

Panel Discussions and Talk Shows

73

Reading a Teleprompter

75

10.

Preparing for a Career in Anchoring 11.

Brutal Truth About the Television News Business

81

12.

Creating the Résumé and the Tape

85

vi

Contents

13.

Dressing Appropriately

87

14.

Facing the Camera for the First Time

89

15.

The Right Emotion for the Right Story

91

On the Road to Being Successful 16.

Anchoring Secrets

95

17.

Avoiding Common Mistakes

98

18.

Transitioning from Reporting to Anchoring

100

19.

Recovering from Failure

102

Getting Better at Anchoring

104

21.

Sustaining a News Anchoring Career

106

22.

Learning on the Job

108

23.

The Mantra for Success

110

20.

Experts Speak 24. 25. 26. 27.

Words of Wisdom Rajdeep Sardesai

115

Train Yourself To Be a Competent Anchor Vinod Dua

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What It Takes To Be a Business Anchor Ashutosh Sinha

119

The Joy of Sports Anchoring Sonali Chander

122

Contents

28. 29. 30.

vii

Television Reporting Versus Television Anchoring Veera Raghav

124

Updating Your Anchoring Skills Ajit Anjum

127

The Daily Weather Update Namrata Sharma

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Important Terms

131

Photographs Follow Page 84

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Foreword As the role and requirements of a television anchor have changed so much over the decades, a book on television anchoring is long overdue. Primarily, an anchor today must be a true journalist— in total command of the news, the stories and the controversies of the day. It is only by being a genuine journalist does an anchor generate trust, credibility and build a long-term relationship with viewers. Strangely, there is so little written on the art and skill of anchoring on television—which is why this book is so welcome. Dr Prannoy Roy Executive Co-Chairperson, NDTV

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Need for This Book This book on news anchoring is the first of its kind, which specifically caters to those aiming to carve out a career in this challenging profession. It is an answer for aspiring news anchors, journalism and mass communication students who have long been groping in the dark for a book that dwells on the dynamics of news anchoring, as there is no book in the market for aspiring anchors. News Anchoring shares my experience of news anchoring and editorial knowledge gathered over the last decade. Aspiring anchors will find this book useful in understanding how they should prepare themselves for this career and what they should expect. Moreover, the USP of this book is the inclusion of news examples that will make understanding the finer nuances of news anchoring very easy. I have dwelt on various untouched subjects like the role of anchors in today’s news environment, their grooming, mantra for success and special tips for anchoring. News anchoring is like treading a tightrope everyday. An anchor makes or breaks the reputation of a channel. Moreover, today’s highly competitive environment makes anchoring a demanding job. This book will guide students, preparing them for news anchoring and teaching them how to deal with difficult news situations. Handling breaking news is the order of the day and lessons with examples will help readers understand the dynamics of this crucial facet of anchoring. My experience over the last decade will not only help newcomers but also hone the skills of anchors who are relatively new to this medium. This book is designed to aid in the mental conditioning of budding anchors, providing them with a solid foundation. Important chapters like secret tricks of anchoring, quest for excellence and management of failure will help enrich new anchors with knowledge and substance. I began my journey with the mantra that there are no shortcuts to success and I still live by it. Constant hard work and commitment have

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Need for This Book

been the hallmark of my career and I aim to inspire the same values among my readers. Though news anchoring is a specialized profession, which requires certain skills and qualities, those who are hardworking will definitely succeed in this profession. Nothing is impossible for those who believe in themselves.

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Basics of News Anchoring

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1 A News Anchor Is Not a News Reader

The concept of news anchoring has undergone a paradigm shift in the last two decades around the world. This has been primarily attributed to the flourishing of 24 hour news channels. Round the clock news has replaced news readers with news anchors. The main reason behind this transformation is tough competition coupled with live technology, both of which have made news anchoring a very challenging task. The basic difference between news readers and news anchors is that news readers are news presenters while news anchors are journalists who understand and participate in the dynamics of news. It is important to note that the role and responsibilities of news readers and news anchors are also different. In India, the launch of the public broadcaster, Doordarshan introduced the concept of news readers. They were given a news script which was to be read out in news bulletins. Hence, a news reader’s job was limited to presentation of the already prepared news script. Over the last two decades, the role of news readers has tremendously transformed. The launch and growth of private news channels promoted this change. As the network of news channels spread, responsibilities and demands from anchors increased. Nowadays, 24 hour news channels require anchors who are fullfledged journalists. Being a journalist, an anchor is expected to understand the nuances, the implications and the importance of news better. In breaking news an anchor carries an entire news

4 The ABC of News Anchoring

bulletin on his or her shoulders without any script support. This is possible only when a news anchor possesses the potential to script, analyse, understand and tweak news. This calls for continuous study, assimilation of read facts and the ability to correlate and interpret. Another significant difference between a news reader and a news anchor is the application of live technology. Earlier, a news reader would record the bulletin in the studio which was then played out at the given news slot. This provided space for retakes that would iron out all the slip ups or fumbles by the news reader. It also provided room for correcting errors in the news script. But this scenario has totally changed with live technology, making the concept of news recording almost redundant. Nowadays every bulletin is live and there is no scope for retakes to rectify errors. A news anchor has to be immaculate in pronunciation, clarity and language. An anchor who falters frequently or lacks confidence loses credibility in front of the audience. He or she has to be ready to react, to perform and to engage in damage control in all kinds of critical situations. Each item of news or editorial content is not always written. Hence, an anchor fills in with his or her editorial and oratorial skills. Grammatical or factual errors in the news script reflect an anchor in poor light. Hence, an anchor is expected to rectify editorial errors while speaking on-air. This comes with practice, confidence and understanding of news. Another major difference between a news reader and a news anchor is that a news reader may or may not update himself with the latest developments in news. But a news anchor has to be abreast of the developments that create ripples in news. An anchor has to keep a tab on current affairs, irrespective of his or her duty hours. This is essential as news is often interconnected. One important miss may leave a loose end, affecting the total understanding of an issue in news. This is why news anchoring

A News Anchor Is Not a News Reader 5

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demands continuous homework which builds a strong foundation of knowledge. Thus, news anchoring is not a soft cushion job anymore. Anchors fully participate in newsroom activities, making them an integral part of editorial decisions. This widens their horizons, promoting their journalistic growth in turn. As a news anchor, you will have a wider scope of professional growth in your career. Moreover, as an anchor with a journalistic background, you will have multiple skills and thus have better chances of moving up the newsroom hierarchy, as compared to news readers.

2 Qualities of a Successful Anchor

News anchoring is perceived as a very glamorous profession. This element of glamour, name and fame attracts a large number of youth towards this field. But the truth is that the whole notion of glamour in electronic media is actually unfounded. This will be dealt with in detail in a later chapter. Anchors being the face of news channels have to be presentable, but this is just one facet of the needs of this profession. The other facet demands a lot of hard work, perseverance and intelligence from aspiring news anchors. It is certainly a combination of beauty and brains. Beauty is not a prerequisite for anchoring, but intellect and knowledge are definitely a hallmark of an anchor’s identity. So what makes a successful news anchor? There are certain qualities that ought to be there or need to be cultivated in a candidate aspiring to be a news anchor. Let us summarize and reflect upon each of the following qualities: 1. Knowledge of current affairs 2. Understanding of news 3. Intelligence 4. Confidence 5. Command over language 6. Impressive personality 7. A good voice

Qualities of a Successful Anchor 7

Imbibing these traits, combined with various factors that determine one’s flight to the top, helps shape anchors for success. Anchors are expected to be smart individuals who can think on their feet, use their intelligence to sail through any critical news scenario and can infuse a sense of energy and vigour to a news show. Let us understand each of these qualities in detail, with the help of examples.

Knowledge of Current Affairs This factor has the highest importance for an aspiring news anchor. Interest in news is a primary requirement for anyone aiming to be a journalist. Anchors are journalists first and knowledge of current affairs is paramount for finding their way in this ambitious profession. One can excel only when one has great interest in one’s job. This inspires hard work and ultimately leads to expertise and accolades over a period of time. For news anchors, knowledge of current affairs is all the more significant as it is essential for writing and understanding news. One must remember that anchors are not spoon-fed the information all the time. They have to speak extempore as and when important news breaks on-air. Several times in a day, an anchor is just given one line of information and he or she has to stretch the bulletin running into several minutes or hours, as per the editorial importance of the news. The backup information keeps coming in later, but in the event of breaking news it is the knowledge of current affairs of an anchor that plays a big role in successfully dealing with such situations. A news anchor should have a good awareness of issues ranging from politics, economics, crime, sports and the city to entertainment. News can break any time, on any issue, making it imperative for the anchors to be well versed with developments in the country and around the world. An anchor should be

8 The ABC of News Anchoring

prepared to speak confidently on any of these, as and when the situation demands. For example, let us assume that a political party fictitiously named Janadesh Party is touted to win state assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. On the counting day, as the news about this party inching towards majority trickles out from the Election Commission, this news is flashed across all channels. An anchor should first announce the gist of this most important news. Then, there are some questions which he or she might like to consider or discuss with his or her viewers. These questions are listed below: • • • •

•

• •

What is the lead by which Janadesh Party is winning as compared to the rival parties? An anchor must know the size of the assembly. Also, what is the number needed for majority? Who is the leader of that party? Has he or she staked claim for chief ministership during election campaigning? If yes, what is the profile of that leader? Does he or she have a clean record or does he or she have some controversial past? What led to the victory? What were the issues this victorious party raised during its campaigning that struck a chord with the voters? Is it a win for Janadesh party or is it an anti-incumbency factor for the ruling party? Who is the governor? (An anchor must know his or her name as the governor would invite the winning party to form the government.)

All this comes with continuous reading and assimilation of important news events. News anchoring demands regular homework in the form of good scanning of newspapers, magazines and news content on television.

Tip

Qualities of a Successful Anchor 9

As an aspiring anchor, you can increase your knowledge of current affairs by maintaining a diary of important news events. This can include a gist of political, international and socio-economic news with its date and year. Such a collection will be a good backup to fall back on, in times of need, for establishing coordination with interlinked past events.

Understanding of News A news anchor must understand and interpret the importance of each news item in a bulletin. This is of significance because unless an anchor understands the news himself or herself, he or she will not be able to convey its message to the viewers. Several times, an anchor has to simplify the news in detail while talking to reporters on-air. Hence, an anchor must know the details and proper perspective of news. The impinging factors which form the basis of understanding this news can be gauged from the following questions: • • •

What could have caused it? What can be its repercussions or effects? What does it mean for the common man?

For example, the Reserve Bank of India has raised the repo rate for banks. If an anchor flatly informs the audience about this news, it does not make sense to a common man who does not understand economic terms like ‘repo rate’. In other words, news should be simplified so that a layman can easily gather its meaning. A news anchor can do this by considering the following questions: • •

First, an anchor must know what is repo rate. How big is this hike in terms of the percentage?

10 The ABC of News Anchoring

• • •

What is the possibility of this hike leading to increase in bank rates? If banks do increase their rates, how will it affect the common man’s loan? Will it result in an increase in the monthly EMI of various loans like the home loan or car loan?

Tip

Similarly, take the example of increase in petrol and diesel prices that takes place on a regular basis. This does not only imply the hike in petrol prices but has a large spillover effect. It leads to a rise in transportation costs, which has a direct influence on the prices of essential items like fruits, vegetables and milk. Several times this prods the bus operators to hike the prices of tickets. Therefore, there is a rise in the prices of several important services. This causes inflationary pressures, resulting in an overall drain in the budget of the common man. This is the focal news point in petrol price hike. Understanding the gravity of news is a must for a news anchor. For example, in the event of communal strife or riots an anchor must avoid taking the names of communities or blaming any one sect. This is against the news guidelines as it can inflame communal passions. One has to be very cautious in such sensitive situations. In an emergency situation, keep yourself in the place of the common man and assess the impact. Break the difficulty quotient of each news breaking and simplify it, so that a person of average intelligence can grasp its meaning and effect.

Intelligence An intelligent mind is a big asset for a news anchor. An intelligent anchor cruises through tough and tricky news with ease.

Qualities of a Successful Anchor 11

Intelligence helps an anchor frame good questions and helps him or her cross question reporters and conduct live interviews. An intelligent anchor knows how to extract a news point from particular news. The power to interpret also comes from intelligence. For example, in 2010 a road mishap took place in Mumbai where a container filled with an inflammable chemical, xylene hydrochloride slipped on the Eastern Express Highway. This is one of the arterial highways for going to suburbs around Mumbai. This accident resulted in the chemical leaking out of the container on the highway. This was big breaking news. How would an intelligent anchor try to extract information out of it? The following points enumerate what to cover: • •

• • • • • • • •

•

What could be the cause of this accident? Was the container overloaded? How many litres of the inflammable chemical could be stored in such a container? What was the risk involved in it? Was there a possibility of it catching fire? What was being done to control the situation? Was there any residential colony in the vicinity? How could this chemical affect the people living nearby and those who travel on this highway? Could it lead to any health hazards? Was the smell of this particular chemical pungent? Was it spreading nearby? How could it affect infants, kids and those ailing from respiratory problems? What was the effect on traffic as the incident happened at peak morning time? (Hundreds of passengers commute on this site as it is the Eastern Express Highway.) Was the traffic being diverted through some other route? (As the tanker turned turtle the affected area must have been cordoned off.)

12 The ABC of News Anchoring

Would the authorities register a case of negligence against the company? These are all kinds of probabilities that an intelligent anchor explores in public interest.

Tip

•

Intelligent anchors do not wait for the reporters or correspondents to supply them with vital information, as it may take a couple of minutes. They must know how to run their minds in different directions, for exploring various logical possibilities.

Confidence Confidence is the key to good presentation in news. A confident anchor exudes authenticity which leaves a positive impact on the audience. Confidence increases with knowledge and experience. It is of great use in times of crisis. A slip of the tongue often happens with anchors, especially when anchoring continuesfor longer periods. This may shake the confidence for a few seconds, but self-belief helps regain composure. Confidence helps in reiterating the famous all-is-well line. Confidence helps a great deal in speaking extempore. It helps instil the power to cruise through any crucial situation in news. Confidence is actually the backbone of a good performance during breaking news. This is because breaking news demands instant script with the right content, announced with great confidence by the anchor. Unless the anchor is confident about the content and its importance, he or she cannot leave a mark on the audience. Lack of confidence takes the sheen off a news show. With so much competition around, viewers have a big choice in terms of news content.With a click on the remote,

Qualities of a Successful Anchor 13

Tip

they can navigate news channels. Thus, a diffident attitude is neither good for an anchor’s career nor for the news channel. Confident speakers are always appreciated and confident anchors are always sought out by news channels. It would be worthwhile to say that a confident anchor adds sheen to a news bulletin. But anchors must guard against giving wrong information with confidence, as it may affect their credibility. Sometimes the enormity of some big news may overpower an anchor’s confidence, but it is the presence of mind coupled with experience that helps an anchor cruise through the situation with ease. Confidence should not snowball into overconfidence as confidence helps achieve success while overconfidence can lead to decline. Assurance about your abilities is great, but each task holds its own significance which should be respected. Overconfidence has a direct bearing on hard work, leading to laxity. So always work on raising the bar for yourself.

Command over Language Journalism is the communication of news and views in public interest. Communication is a bridge that treads on words and pictures. Sometimes a picture speaks a thousand words and sometimes the script is so good that it brings alive the scene of news in front of viewers. For this, the script has to be descriptive, crisp and direct. As mentioned already, a news anchor in breaking news has to perform without editorial scripts. So command over language is necessary to perform well. A competent anchor has to master the art of drafting pertinent sentences in a short time. While presenting news, several times anchors carry the entire bulletin on their shoulders. This can be executed on

14 The ABC of News Anchoring

the basis of their knowledge and information. However, it cannot take place without good command over language. Articulating the available information fluently is a craft learnt over a period of time. For starters, familiarity with news vocabulary is important. Selection of wrong words or phrases can reverse the meaning or send a wrong message. For example, consider the following sentence: Cricketer Yuvraj Singh is affected by lung cancer. With treatment being the top priority now, this effectively signals a long break for Yuvraj from cricket. The above news has two words ‘affect’ and ‘effect’ which, if interchanged, would read wrongly, as follows: Cricketer Yuvraj Singh is effected by lung cancer. With treatment being the top priority now, this affectively signals to a long break from cricket for Yuvraj. Similarly, read the following carefully Tamil superstar Rajnikanth will be released from the hospital today. He was admitted to a hospital in Singapore after complaining of chest pain. The correct way to represent this news item would be, Tamil superstar Rajnikanth will be discharged from the hospital today. He was admitted to a hospital in Singapore after complaining of chest pain. It is important to note that prisoners are ‘released’ while patients are ‘discharged’. Similarly, a judge may ‘recuse’ him from hearing a case of black money, while the crucial intervention

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of the court in 2010 ‘rescued’ the 2G scam from being buried inside government files. Therefore, an anchor has to be careful in choosing words and how they come out at the spur of the moment. Not only should an anchor choose the right words and sentences, he or she also has to convey the purpose of the news. The message in the news bulletin should be crystal clear to the viewers. Wrong pronunciation of words leaves a bad impression on listeners, reflecting the anchor in poor light. Thus, anchors must polish their vocabulary and focus on the right pronunciation of words. There should be no hesitation in asking peers or colleagues about the right pronunciation of a difficult word, than making a fool of oneself in front of innumerable viewers. Being bilingual or having a good knowledge of both English and Hindi is of immense help in pronouncing the words correctly. Several English words in the names of places, individuals and events find mention in Hindi news. However, being an anchor in a Hindi news channel is no justification for wrong pronunciation. Having a good command over language does not mean waxing eloquent on important issues. As an anchor you should carefully choose your words so as to reflect the right sentiment in news. Language should be simple and direct, to successfully convey what you mean.

Impressive Personality An impressive personality implies that an anchor should be pleasant and have a good screen presence. He or she should influence the audience through skills that will distinguish an ordinary anchor from him or her (an exceptional anchor). Grooming helps one look good, but it is an anchor’s knowledge and expertise

16 The ABC of News Anchoring

Tip

that ultimately leaves an impression on the audience. An impressive anchor influences through content, style of speaking and rapport with the audience. Various heavyweight anchors like Prannoy Roy and Vinod Dua have a personality that speaks volumes about their experience and knowledge. Their conduct on-air also plays a vital role in creating a positive impression. A good impression on the listeners is one of the best compliments for an anchor. Once the personal rapport is built with the audience, the viewers look forward to an anchor’s news show. This raises an anchor’s value in the eyes of the management. Expensive or fancy clothes do not create an impressive personality. Rather, it is the originality of thought and expression that actually wins over the audience. Do not overdo things or try to flaunt your knowledge. Your understated personal charm will reflect on its own.

A Good Voice Anchors are recognized by their voice, which is an integral part of their personality. A good voice is one of the basic requirements for news anchoring. An anchor with base in voice clears the initial audition easily. The voice should have expression and clarity. Each word an anchor says should be crystal clear. Anchoring calls for good voice modulation. A news anchor must know where to pause and where to give emphasis in the sentence, so that the right word and phrase reflects by its weight. A wrong pause in one sentence dilutes the effect of the script. Voice modulation also demands various emotions. It could vary from aggression, empathy, excitement to sarcasm as per the demand of the news script. If the voice has the right expression it recreates the event in front of the viewer, while a dull voice dampens the effect of important news.

Qualities of a Successful Anchor 17

Tip

A good voice is not only needed in anchoring but also in voice-overs for news stories. Packaged news is laced with a voice-over that describes and explains the script. An impressive voice-over artist is always sought out in a news channel. Anchors with expressive voice quality are always preferred to do important voice-overs. With experience, the audience begins to identify an anchor through his or her voice in the absence of his or her physical presence. Voice can be a distinct signature of your anchoring personality. Concentrate on making it as expressive as possible, so that it easily plays out various human moods which help connect with the audience.

While these are some seminal qualities that are necessary to be a good anchor, they do not represent the only qualities that an anchor requires in order to succeed at his or her work. As an anchor, one is encouraged to constantly increase one’s source of knowledge and build on one’s personality through a variety of ways.

3 Challenges in News Anchoring

A news anchor’s role has diversified in today’s news environment. Anchors are an inseparable part of a team which works tirelessly to bring a news bulletin on-air. In many news organizations, anchors script news, do visual editing and make rundowns. The purpose behind this is greater involvement and understanding of the news process. At NDTV, anchors are encouraged to write their own anchor links. An anchor link is that part of the news that is read or delivered by an anchor. The idea behind anchors writing their own links is that they should add their personal touch to news, without diluting or compromising the essence of news. This helps in giving an element of individuality to news. Not only do they write anchor links, in many news organizations experienced anchors hold command of the entire news shift, making decisions regarding selection of news, news spin, its content and the final script. In short, anchors play a dual role, that of the news editor and news anchor, in some news channels. Anchors are expected to make even mundane news sound interesting. For example, the top news of a bulletin reads, There is heavy rain in and around the city of Delhi. Water logging reported at various places. A bland anchor link would simply give this information with no personal touch to it. This does not make any connection

Challenges in News Anchoring 19

with the audience. A creative anchor can weave a news shade saying, If you are stepping out of your homes this morning, do allow for extra time as heavy rains are lashing the capital. You may have to face traffic jams as water logging is reported at major traffic intersections. Or he may say, The weather in Delhi has taken a pleasant turn with a sudden burst of heavy rain. Soak in the monsoon feeling, but remember to carry your umbrellas before stepping out. Water logging has taken place at many important traffic routes. This is expected to cause jams. In many news channels, anchors also do reporting. Going out in the field gives a fair understanding of the ground situation which contributes to the all round development of an anchor. This gives an idea about news gathering, sources of news, their confidentiality and other nitty-gritty’s of reporting. The experience of reporting ultimately adds to an anchors profile. Many renowned anchors of the day venture out for reporting on specific subjects. This helps build networks among the political and social class, adding to an anchor’s utility in the newsroom. The role of anchors is multidimensional in today’s newsrooms. As journalists, anchors are expected to know all major functions like reporting, scripting and editing. Apart from this, anchors are the final filters of news scripts. As anchors deliver the final news product to the audience, they have the space and liberty to make final corrections on-air by identifying errors in the script.

20 The ABC of News Anchoring

Anchors conduct live interviews on-air which add fresh elements to news. These interviews are done with experts, reporters, government officials, politicians and authorities accountable to the public. Most of the times, these phonos and outside broadcasts (OBs) are a great source of generating newer angles and expanding news stories, as they help assess the ground situation better. This becomes challenging, as it is the intelligence and potential of an anchor to extract and play up news that can later snowball into a top news story. An anchor’s role holds significance as he or she has to question and several times counter question to seek answers, actually acting as an interface between the people and the governing authorities. Several times the phonos and OBs have to be stretched beyond the normal time, depending upon the importance of news. This calls for thorough understanding of news by the anchors. This topic has been covered in detail in a later chapter. Covering up for mistakes by the crew and edit team is also a part of an anchor’s responsibility. For example, many times due to technical snags the visuals get stuck on-air. This may happen due to technical problems in the production control system. Sometimes the whole news system gets hung with the anchor in focus on camera. In such cases anchors have to be very alert, starting without waiting for any instructions or editorial support. This calls for spontaneous commentary which has to stretch for a couple of minutes. It requires excellent communication skills and a thorough knowledge of the events unfolding through the day. A good anchor sensitizes people to the gravity of news. Empathy and compassion are virtues which go a long way in winning over people’s hearts. In times of tragedy and human grief, an anchor is expected to show sensitivity and maturity. For example, a woman has been lynched to death in Bihar after being termed a witch. It is a crude shade of superstition that still engulfs rural society in India. There are two ways to deal

Challenges in News Anchoring 21

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with this—an anchor can take it as another law and order issue in the state. One can haul up authorities for lack of vigil and action, but what about the state of our society that is still trapped in realms of superstition? Or, an anchor can make a strong case for human rights violation, the exploitation of women and highlight the backwardness of the people at large in a rural set-up. The main reason behind these crude practices is the lack of literacy which blinds people towards rationalism and logic. Thus, anchors are not just pretty faces sitting inside airconditioned studios any more. They are multi-talented professionals who perform different functions in different news organizations. Anchors engage in reporting, editing and scripting which showcases their versatile talent as television journalists. Don’t limit your participation in the newsroom to your own news bulletins. Be active in the newsroom, even when you are off air or not anchoring. Inculcate the habit of being alert and keep your eyes and ears open. This will keep you in the news loop and ultimately help you perform better, raising your knowledge.

4 An Anchor’s Role

The News Process

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Let us understand the role of anchors more clearly, with the help of the following news process: In a newsroom, news is filtered at multiple stages. First, News Source when some raw information is passed on from a source to a reporter or stringer, it is checked for Reporter/Stringer authenticity and substance. Then the reporter or stringer passes this information to the input desk Input which adds flesh to it. This is done by giving the background to this news and providing support through live phonos and Output OBs.Then it comes to the output stage which fine tunes the reporter’s information into a proper Anchor script. A script editor checks and highlights the news-point. Then it is put in the rundown for On-Air going on-air. But sometimes last Figure 4.1 The news process moment changes take place or some errors creep in.This is where news anchors weed out the unimportant or erroneous part on their own.

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For example, a news script said Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran is scheduled to hold negotiations on water dispute with his Pakistani counterpart today. It may seem okay but the error was factual. At that time, Shyam Saran had retired from the post of Foreign Secretary a few weeks back, making way for Nirupama Rao. This was a huge mistake. But the anchor noticed it and corrected it by replacing Nirupama Rao’s name in place of Shyam Saran. The mistake didn’t go on-air. This is how anchors are the ultimate filters who check and strengthen news.

Variety of Roles An anchor performs a wide variety of roles in a news organization. Apart from the skills that he or she is expected to have and inculcate, an anchor constantly learns on the job. The following section describes the different functions of an anchor that he or she is expected to perform. Handle Breaking News

Handling breaking news is an essential part of 24×7 news. Nowadays breaking news has become a staple feature of everyday news. For understanding the nature of breaking news and how to handle it, one must first know what is breaking news. Breaking news is news that is of utmost importance at a given time. However, fierce competition among news channels has led to the dilution of breaking news to some extent. Any important news may transform into breaking news, depending upon its relevance and impact. The basic nature of breaking news, is that it should influence a large number of people. So what constitutes breaking news? The canvas of breaking news is quite expansive. It can be anything from a cabinet reshuffle in ministers’ portfolios to a bomb blast, Naxal violence

24 The ABC of News Anchoring

or a record high in Sensex to a train accident. Sometimes crippling traffic jam on Delhi roads also becomes the topic of breaking news. Basically, the importance of breaking news surpasses all other news content in a news bulletin. For example, the Indian wrestler Sushil Kumar won gold at the World Championship in Moscow in September 2010. This was breaking news. So what made this news special and was the reason for it overshadowing other news? It is because this was the first time ever in the history of Indian wrestling that this championship had been won by an Indian wrestler. Sushil etched his name in the history of wrestling by bringing the coveted medal home. Breaking news dictates and dominates the agenda of news in a particular bulletin. The result is that other news stories are dropped from the rundown at that moment, as breaking news has to be enlarged. Breaking news is a golden opportunity for anchors as they take charge and carry the bulletin on their shoulders. As important news breaks, it is flashed instantly on the television screens. It also implies that no one is prepared for it in advance. But an anchor has to be prepared for anything and everything. During breaking news the editorial support trickles in after a few minutes. Thus, the anchor has to play on this news on the strength of his or her knowledge and ad-libbing skills. Breaking news develops as more information pours in with the passage of time. Though this information is mostly in the shape of one-liners, an anchor shoots into prominence here as it is an anchor’s responsibility to make it big, enlarge its impact and interpret it for the audience. Playing big simply means stretching the news to its depth, beyond the time constraint. This has to be done with energy, urgency and substance. Energy and urgency reflect the importance of news. But this can be handled confidently only with presence of mind and logical thinking. The skill of navigating through breaking news lies in the exploration of all possible options. The reasoning and questioning should be

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such that it builds on information. Information is the fodder that feeds breaking news. Extracting information from the sources helps in widening breaking news. These sources can be reporters, correspondents, experts, government officials, politicians, etc. To understand this better, let us take the following example of breaking news. The tragic death of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. R. or Y. S. Rajashekhara Reddy was huge breaking news in September 2009. The primary information was, Y. S. R. missing since many hours. No contact with him despite frantic efforts. This two line information dominated television screens as big breaking news for several hours till it reached its conclusion. If an anchor has to do this kind of breaking news, he or she must tread a line of caution as this involves a lot of scepticism. I did this breaking news for five hours continuously, till it became clear that Y. S. R. was no more. Let us go one by one on how to proceed. This is breaking news of a very challenging nature. How does one play on it? How does one handle and enlarge it? What should be the guiding principles in this situation? It can be understood by the questions that follow. The answers to these questions give contours to this breaking news. • • • •

First and foremost, since when was he missing and where was he bound? Was he alone or were there some accomplices with him? What was the reason for his journey? How much time does this journey normally entail?

The initial information was that he was going to his constituency to check the progress of one of the popular rural schemes launched by his government. He went unannounced as he wanted to assess the situation first-hand, without alerting the government staff. He was travelling in a helicopter with his personal assistant. This journey was to get over in a maximum of

26 The ABC of News Anchoring

30 minutes. The route of the journey passed over dense jungles of Nallamalla in the Rayalseema terrain of Andhra Pradesh. This was the information coming from various sources. Apart from these nuggets of information, this news had to be stretched. How does one do so? I have listed a few points that can help one proceed: •

•

•

•

One can speculate on the reason for his disappearance. There can be many reasons behind his disappearance, though nothing could be said at that moment. This aspect needed to be explored through several probabilities, but with a dose of caution. Since he was flying in a helicopter, one probability could be that the chopper had developed a technical snag, resulting in grounding of the chopper at some place. In such a scenario, the pilot could have landed at some place with poor mobile connectivity as no contact could be established with the pilot through air traffic control. Another important probability could be that Naxals might have got hold of the chopper. This probability arose as the journey route passed over a Naxal-infested area. A valid question could be—How is the Naxal presence in this area? Since the Naxalites were cornered and made to run to other states, it could be that they had taken revenge by abducting Y. S. R., the Chief Minister of the state.

After some minutes, I received information from the reporter in Hyderabad that the pilot of this helicopter had taken off in bad weather. This was a vital clue. It led to many other probabilities, as one can only speculate and explore the probabilities till anything becomes officially clear. I have listed these probabilities:

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•

•

The helicopter might have crashed. (This probability was there right from the beginning when the news broke, but an anchor cannot jump the gun on such serious issues without any hint.) This was a hint which was explored as it became clear that the pilot operated under bad weather conditions. However, this did not mean that Y. S. R. had died. Y. S. R. could also be stuck and injured, even in case of the helicopter crash.

After a few hours, it became clear that the chopper had been spotted on a hilltop in dense jungles. The state’s intelligence and police were trying to reach this hilltop. A special plane was being sent with armed commandoes trained in dealing with tough mountainous terrain. This is how I explored the issue now, by considering the following questions: •

•

How many members in this team were leaving and in how much time could they reach the site of the hilltop, where the chopper was spotted? Was there any medical support team accompanying the commandoes?

In between the probabilities, one must flesh the extempore news content with the political personality of the person in focus. Here it was Y. S. R., hence knowledge about his background and political achievements was necessary. It is to be noted that Y. S. R.’s government had defied anti-incumbency and won the state assembly polls for the second time in a row. This was largely attributed to Y. S. R.’s charisma. He recognized the pulse of his electorate. This made him a popular leader. He was an astute political persona who made his towering presence felt as a strong leader in the Congress party circles at the Centre.

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Within a few hours, news broke that Y. S. R. was dead. No one travelling on the chopper was left alive. It was primarily attributed to bad weather that caused the crash. Breaking news of this nature did not stop at the confirmation of Y. S. R.’s death. Several important questions and considerations raised their head in this scenario which needed to be addressed now: • •

•

Who would take Y. S. R.’s place? Eventually, who would don the mantle of the Chief Minister in Andhra Pradesh? An anchor could also state—a big loss for Andhra Pradesh and the Congress in particular. Congress had lost one of its influential regional leaders who had catapulted the party to victory in the state. An anchor could dwell on the repercussions of Y. S. R.’s absence in state politics. Grief and shock spread all over Andhra Pradesh and the rest of the country over his tragic death. This could be a part of expanding breaking news.

A great deal of information can be carved out through the interpretation of news. But this interpretation should be peppered with caution. In breaking news an anchor gets information through reporters or correspondents covering the event. Hence, their role is equally important in the success of any breaking news. Together they make breaking news big and impressive. With experience, handling and playing over breaking news can be fun. While this may sound contradictory to those who hesitate in dealing with high pressure situations, it is true that breaking news provides an opportunity for anchors to prove their mettle. News of this nature usually has no time constraint. Hence anchors have full time and liberty to exhibit their journalistic craft. The more one engages in breaking news, the more satisfying and appealing it becomes. This kind of news needs a great combo of energy and command over language, which

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combined with knowledge and presence of mind makes breaking news truly worth watching. Breaking news is a true clincher. It makes an anchor’s confidence soar to new heights, if handled with élan. But, on the other hand, it also highlights whether an anchor is ill-prepared or has a half-baked knowledge of the subject. The success of breaking news lies in your potential as an anchor to stretch the news till the output sets a limit to it. Make it your strength by improving on your general knowledge and logical thinking.

Speak Extempore or Ad-lib

Speaking extempore or ad-libbing is one of the most important requirements for today’s anchors. It is the need of the hour. An anchor needs to be an excellent speaker to be successful in 24 hour news channels. Ad-libbing means speaking extempore without any preparation, at the spur of the moment. This is required for filling in while describing the news, when the shots are played for an extended time during breaking news. A news anchor who cannot ad-lib or speak extempore is handicapped. Efficient ad-libbing requires knowledge about events creating news and their background. The speaking prowess or the power of an anchor’s ad-libbing is tested in breaking news. Take the example of the train accident at Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh that rocked the nation on 10 July 2011. The Delhi bound Kalka-Howrah Mail derailed from the tracks, killing nearly 80 people. Being the face of a news channel, an anchor is expected to cover up for all delays and communication problems at such times with his or her ad-libbing skills. But how does one ad-lib in such cases?

30 The ABC of News Anchoring

At first, a single or two line information trickles in with the extent of damage unknown. So the emphasis should be to find out what is the situation on ground? This comes through a phono with a reporter or stringer, either at the spot or in the vicinity. If this is not possible, then efforts are made to call up the District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police or a high official of that area to gain information. Railway public relations officers are also a resourceful source of information. If the phono is through, information about the accident and ground situation starts getting clear. But if none of the phonos are possible, then the onus is completely on the anchor to stick to this news on the strength of his or her add-libbing skills. The given two line information may be—Kalka-Howrah Mail derails near Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh. Heavy casualties reported; many passengers have died. An anchor can start by saying, A big train accident has been reported near Uttar Pradesh. The Kalka-Howrah Mail bound for Delhi has suffered an accident. The train had started from Kolkata last night. The extent of casualties or the number of affected passengers is still unknown. It appears to be a train accident of big magnitude, but more information is awaited to clear the picture. We will shortly tell you about the ground situation and the status of rescue and relief operations. The cause of this accident may be known in a couple of days but the issue of rail safety has long been overlooked. In every budget, the Railway Minister promises to upgrade technology, to help reduce accidents that occur due to human or technical errors, but nothing much has been done despite tall claims. The result is the continued suffering of hapless passengers.

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An anchor can relate this accident to a rise in rail accidents as three days back, on 6 July 2011, at least 37 people were killed and 31 others injured when a train rammed into a bus at an unmanned railway crossing in Uttar Pradesh in the wee hours. While an anchor ad-libs this, some local news source is arranged for by the input desk, for extracting more information. This local source can be a stringer, government official, head of police or administration or some eye witness. Sometimes news agencies like PTI also upload information on their websites. The anchor can use this to enlarge the news story, by asking the following questions: • • • • •

How many passengers are affected by this? Have the rescue teams reached the spot? How far is the nearest railway station from the spot of accident? How long will it take for the medical teams to arrive for help? What are the arrangements being done by the railways?

In such a situation, an anchor must keep assimilating all the important information, making constant revisions and additions in the script drafted spontaneously at the moment. Ad-libbing skills are a tool of survival in covering up all delays and communication problems that may crop up while the bulletin is on-air. But speaking without sense reflects badly on both the anchor and the channel. When anchors are dealing with communication problems and filling in for delayed space, they need to be ready with some support information. This could be the background of the ad-libbed news. Nobody can predict breaking news when you need to ad-lib, but there are certain news events that are predictable and can be prepared in advance. It could be about a judgment in court which is to be delivered on a particular date, the annual budget

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of the government or election results which dominate the news rundowns throughout the day. Other pre-planned events could be the Republic Day parade or extensive coverage of some festivals like Ganesh Visarjan, Dussehra or Janmashtami. News channels cut live on such occasions, for hours at times. Anchors are not just expected to describe the event, but also give a special flavour about the nature of such special events. It helps a good anchor distinguish himself or herself from other anchors. Weaving the language with facts, emotions and proper perspective is an art crafted over the years. There is so much competition around that it is a challenge to hold the viewers to one channel. An anchor plays the most significant role in this. Words can create magic, but one must remember to be balanced and reasonable in speaking at length or while ad-libbing. Energy and enthusiasm are integral to engage the viewers for a long time. An anchor must keep infusing some fresh element in his or her ideas that will finally reflect while ad-libbing. Listeners will definitely respond well if anchors pursue their talk with an objective of informing and educating viewers, instead of just doling out set pieces of news. Anchors should be cautious in their tone and they should guard against sounding arrogant. For gaining command over ad-libbing, they must possess or develop good vocabulary and command over language. Writing and speaking for television means communication with the common man in simple language. It is often difficult to be simple while writing and presenting news. In television, time is money and each second holds premium. So an anchor must wrap up the information or message intended in the given time. For this, an anchor’s language should be crisp and precise. Long sentences often kill the pace of news, confusing and sometimes weaning away the viewers.

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Hence anchors should focus on framing small and sharp sentences. Long pauses should also be totally avoided as it dampens the tempo of news. The emphasis should be on combining all the interesting and newsworthy elements of an event or news in the given time with balance and diligence. Continuous reading on national and sociocultural subjects helps gather knowledge which is useful in speaking extempore. It adds matter to news presentation. Speaking extempore or ad-libbing is the demand of the day and development of a sound knowledge bank complements it. News anchoring is impossible without ad-libbing. You can master this quality by understanding different nuances of news, their meaning and impact. Repetition in ad-libbing is permissible during breaking news for a few seconds, but incorporation of fresh information is necessary to retain the interest of the audience.

Develop a Presence of Mind

Anchoring demands tremendous presence of mind from news anchors. It is all the more important today as news is completely live. Anchors have to act and react in an extremely short span of time. This calls for application of common sense, combined with creative skills that diffuse difficult situations. Thus an anchor needs to keep his or her eyes and ears open. Unavailability of visuals at the right time, delayed access to the reporters or subject experts, or a mismatch between script text and visuals takes place frequently. This is where an anchor’s presence of mind comes into play. Presence of mind saves the news rundown from going haywire. It helps regain perspective and come back on track from a communication snag.

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The importance of an anchor’s presence of mind cannot be overemphasized. For example, take a situation where during a bulletin, visuals of injury to Sachin Tendulkar play out on the headline text of the Prime Minister’s tough statement on terrorism. Mismatch or wrong visuals can be attributed to human or technical error. There are two ways of tackling it: •

•

An anchor with little presence of mind may goof up on noticing this, giving nil or inadequate response. This may increase the gravity of the error for viewers. In the ideal scenario, the anchor should chip in with his or her presence of mind to cover this up. For this, an anchor must immediately see and correct what is being played. This can be done by giving a lead out to visuals, by teasing it for further segments in the bulletin. One can patch it up through a transition like, From cricket’s pitch, let’s switch to the political pitch. News coming from Parliament. The PM has just given an important statement on terrorism.

This is a small example of how presence of mind retrieves the situation to an extent. Good presence of mind along with an anchor’s wit can transform a dull situation into a lively one. It is just a little extra information about individuals, events dominating events and background that makes the difference. Presence of mind is very useful in interpretation of news. It unravels various implications of news. For example, a news item read as, two criminals confess being part of a conspiracy to eliminate two former Commonwealth (CWG) office bearers. The targeted officials were Sanjay Mohindroo, former Deputy Director General and T. S. Darbari, former Joint Director General of the Organizing Committee of the CWG. Both officials were arrested for various scams and

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irregularities in contracts given by the Organizing Committee of the CWG 2010. The criminals also blamed the Tihar prison administration for having connived in this. They said this in front of a metropolitan magistrate at Tis Hazari Court in Delhi. There are two ways of dealing with it. Either the anchor can take this news as it is, saying, Two criminals arrested for conspiring to kill two CWG officials at Tihar jail. Or the anchor could add a twist by saying, Plot hatched to kill two Commonwealth office bearers unearthed. Two criminals confess being hired for the contract killing. Connivance with jail staff alleged. This is more hard hitting and conveys the magnitude of criminal conspiracy. On an average level, this may stop here as the accused have confessed and the court asked for a detailed probe from the local Station House Officer (SHO) of the area, Hari Nagar in West Delhi. But presence of mind calls for unravelling more disturbing angles to this criminal conspiracy. The big questions which need to be raised are: • •

Who will gain most by eliminating these Commonwealth officials? Who could have been behind this plot?

It is pertinent to point out that a few days before this incident, the premier investigating agency, CBI, had requested the Centre to oust Suresh Kalmadi and Lalit Bhanot from their respective posts of President and Secretary of the Organizing Committee of the CWG. The CBI had stated that both of them were creating obstacles in the scams probe. Though it was too early to assume any role of either of them in this conspiracy,

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it could never be totally ruled out. T. S. Darbari, after being arrested, dragged Suresh Kalmadi in the scams, saying everything was done in full knowledge and approval of Kalmadi. So the anchor should be careful in not accusing anyone directly but should also raise the point, is there the possibility of these two incidents being related? Let us gauge another example of how to use presence of mind while being on-air. Take the situation of a two-anchor show being on-air. It is a format where two anchors sit together on the same set and alternately anchor links. There may be a situation where one anchor’s audio suddenly stops. This could be as a result of some problem in an anchor’s mike or due to the anchor not feeling well or his or her audio suddenly getting choked on-air. This should immediately prompt the other anchor to react and pick up the link or ad-lib from where the former has left. Presence of mind of one anchor thus saves an embarrassing or unwanted situation. Presence of mind is a quality which when polished helps anchors shine like diamonds. Keeping a keen eye on what is happening around you and quick judgement of its impact will help you fasten your responses. This comes with experience, but those eager to learn should make an extra effort to be vigilant, as situations in news can turn the tables within seconds.

Build a Knowledge Bank

Knowledge has no boundaries and one should always strive to accumulate as much as possible. News anchors should pursue this principle religiously as extensive reading helps gather knowledge. For this, newspapers, magazines and other sources

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of news information should be a part of an anchor’s staple reading diet. Television channels cover mostly all important news but newspapers publish detailed news reports, articles, editorials and columns by experts which give a fair understanding of the current subjects. This provides in-depth news and several shades of current affairs which might have been missed by television. Television operates under a time constraint too which necessitates tweaking of news content. But print media doesn’t suffer from this kind of handicap. Extensive reading helps enrich the depth of knowledge which powers the news anchor’s performance in live interviews, debates and OBs with correspondents. It also assists in cross questioning reporters and expert guests during bulletins. In-depth knowledge improves an anchor’s analytical skills. Judging and comparing both sides of a news item is important, so that fairness of news is ensured. Another important aspect of developing and increasing one’s knowledge bank is that it helps anchors give lead-outs. A leadout is basically an out link or read which is given by an anchor after a news story. This can be some vital information related to the news story or a comment. It can also be a fact that puts the news in perspective. It is not necessary to give lead-outs. This is always an anchor’s choice, if he or she wants to add to the news content. For example, there is a news update on violence and unrest in the Kashmir Valley which began in June 2010. This affected peace in the trouble-torn state, with the death toll crossing 100 people in the period till September 2010. So what kind of lead-out can be given? It can be about the economic losses to the valley, setback to education, infrastructure, etc. I gave the following lead-out: Since June, three months of violence has led to nearly one lakh people becoming jobless. The state of Jammu and Kashmir has suffered an economic loss of ` 21,000 crore.

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Another example could be about the death of two people due to rash driving in Delhi. A truck driver had mowed down two people travelling on a two wheeler. A lead-out could be about how many people die in India due to road accidents. For this, one has to do some research. I said that every six minutes a person dies in India due to road accidents. This gave weight to this news. I had picked up this information from a newspaper article which I had read many weeks back. It is just that the information had struck me and got registered at the back of my mind. Lead-outs reflect the confidence and comfort zone of an anchor in a news set-up, indicating his or her grasp and hunger for giving an extra edge to a news story. So news and information should not just be read by the anchors but absorbed as well. Only then does it remain in the anchor’s purview to use it at the right time in the right context. Thus it helps in developing a knowledge bank. Sometimes several news stories have important data which can be saved for future use. Cutting such articles or saving a scanned copy of the news piece is a good idea for increasing knowledge. If an anchor is knowledgeable, it reflects in his or her questioning and reasoning. It also helps rectify mistakes in the news script or other news content. But if the anchor lacks knowledge, then he or she is totally dependent on the editorial team. Anchors and the editorial team on the desk should complement each other. An anchor’s intellect and knowledge is an asset which grows with time and experience. Knowledge always pays in the long run. Extensive reading and absorbing important information in your memory can be very useful to you as an anchor. There are no limits to absorbing knowledge but you should also attempt to use this information at the right time.

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Think on the Feet

Thinking on the feet simply means thinking and implementing at the spur of the moment. During breaking news or any other important news, an anchor has a few seconds to think, frame and act. The reaction has to be spontaneous as television content is guided by substance with speed. Thus, the speed of thinking coupled with the framing of sensible sentences by an anchor is of essence. As discussed earlier, breaking news develops after hitting the screens. In a round the clock news set-up, there is constant upgradation of news. Several times, owing to time constraints the update may not be written in the script. In such a scenario, anchors who think and act quickly, filling in the gaps, are a boon to the news desk. Sometimes upgradation and improvisation in the news script is also done in the studio by an anchor, to rectify and tweak news. Some anchors are so fluent at this art that they do not bother to change the script manually but just make the changes on-air by ad-libbing. For example, take this breaking news, BSE sensex hits a new high of 20,000. This happened in September 2010. This headline was made ten minutes before the start of the bulletin and it was a top headline, reading as follows: Bull-run on dalal street, sensex reaches 20,000, a new high in 32 months. As soon the bulletin opened, the sensex dropped 100 points, going below 20,000. It has to borne in mind that trade in share markets is volatile and changes in a span of a few seconds. Because of this change, the headline actually becomes outdated. The editorial team couldn’t do anything as it happened just at the start of the bulletin. It takes at least a minute to rework and re-edit the headline and then put it on-air. So here an anchor’s role assumes a lot of importance. In such situations, it is ideal to keep

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the market update chart opened on the computer. In the last five seconds I noticed this change and rephrased the headline. There was no time to write so I ad-libbed it as, Bull-run on dalal street, minor correction in the sensex after it touches record high of 20,000. This is the art of thinking and acting spontaneously. This change was thought, framed and announced in a matter of five seconds. This is a small example of on the spot improvisation by an anchor. It shows how an anchor has to be pro-active. Apart from breaking news, an anchor’s thinking on the feet in normal news situations saves the news crew from unwanted time gaps. For example, there are many news graphics that are taken in the form of pointers having important news information. Each of these pointers carries visual graphics as well. Sometimes the loading machine takes a few seconds from one graphic plate to another plate. The information could be a oneliner in one graphic plate. So an anchor has to pause for the next plate to load. To avoid this pause and any other gap, an anchor can intelligently fill that time space with background information of that news pertaining to the pointer in the graphic plate. In October 2010, during the CWG in Delhi, one of the news graphics had four pointers detailing the number of gold medals available to be won on that particular day. The first pointer said five in shooting, the second read ten in swimming, the third read six in wrestling and the fourth said eight medals in gymnastics. So if the loading machine took time from giving a graphical representation of shooting to swimming, an anchor could smartly fill in the gap with information like, India has won the maximum medals in shooting and we hope the tally will rise today with India aiming for these five gold medals on offer.

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Thinking on the feet also extends to interpretation of news. An anchor is not spoon-fed the consequences or implications of news during live interviews. For example, in July 2009 Delhi High Court, in a historic judgment, declared Article 377 violative of our fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution. For this, one must be acquainted with the meaning and provision of Article 377. Its major implication was that it decriminalized gay relationships. The bench of Delhi High Court headed by the then Chief Justice A. P. Shah ruled that it is not a crime to have same sex relationships. Hence, Article 377 which rated homosexuality a crime was declared in violation of Articles 21, 14 and 15 of the Indian Constitution. Anchors had to be careful in pronouncing and interpreting this milestone judgment. The following points had to be kept in mind: • •

•

•

•

Not labelling this judgment as legal cover for all same sex relationships. Keeping in mind that this was a landmark judgment that ordered that consensual physical relationship between two adults, irrespective of sex, will not be deemed criminal. Remembering and reflecting on the gravity of this news and the bearing of this ruling on Indian society. There were a lot of implications of this ruling. The important social implication of this landmark judgment was that it was a big victory for the gay activists and the gay community in India, which had been suppressed and harassed at the hands of society. Further inferring that socially this judgment was reflective of the change in Indian society which had been yearning for recognition. Finally, while anchoring one had to keep in mind that this was not a final judgment of the judiciary. This was given by the Delhi High Court. It was bound to be challenged in the Apex Court by those against gay relationships.

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Thinking on the feet means reacting spontaneously and hitting bull’s eye in terms of content. Observing peers closely on this count would help a great deal.

Maintain a Personal Touch

News in 24 hour channels is often repeated till it is replaced by something else that is newsworthy. It gains a refreshing dimension if an anchor gives a unique personal touch to it. This breaks the monotony in repeated news. As the name suggests, personal touch varies from anchor to anchor. It makes an anchor stand out among the melee of other anchors. This personal touch is evident in various forms. It can be in the language of the anchor link, the manner of delivering news or the nature of a lead-out from one link to another. It can also be the anchor’s facial expressions, body language or individual pauses. All these efforts on the part of an anchor contribute in bringing a new flavour to the news. Elements of personal touch like the pace of delivering news, emphasis and pauses on words and eye contact may be different with different anchors. All anchors look and talk into the camera but few do it with an attitude. This attitude has to be viewer friendly. Too much aggression or too meek an approach puts off viewers. Personal touch can also be easily given through anchor links. When an anchor writes a special link, he or she expresses it in a different manner with a sense of belonging to it. This gives the anchor link a special flavour. Sample this news for example: SBI opens a branch in Hyderabad exclusively for crorepatis. This is a one of its kind branch for high value customers by any bank in the country. Many facilities are being provided at the branch for high-end clients like exclusive dressing area.

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An innovative anchor link for this news item can be This is a special news for all the crorepati Hyderabadis. An exclusive branch for the crorepati clients has been opened in the city by SBI. Among many facilities being offered here is a dressing area, where you can deck up in your precious jewellery from the bank locker and head to the party straight. It’s time saving and minimises the risk on transporting jewellery.

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This imparts a degree of freshness and makes the link interactive. This is a soft story, but hard news can also be written and presented with a personal touch that strikes a chord with the news audience. Body language is another aspect of personal touch. Some anchors are very expressive. Facial expressions play an important part in this. A smiling anchor looks friendly as compared to a straight-faced news presenter. But smiles should be reserved for the start of the bulletin and soft news. Smiles and other facial expressions need to be calibrated as per the nature of news. Some anchors reflect the intensity of news through their eyes while some do so with their expressive hand movements. In all, body language in whatever form should not look over the top. Your personal touch is unique to you. It should create a new identity for you as an anchor and strike the right chord with the viewers.

Use Your Body Language

Body language is a mode of expression of a news anchor. It is a process of dialogue where an anchor conveys his or her thoughts through actions. These actions can be through the movement of hands, shaking of the head, facial expressions, tone and tenor

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of modulation, etc. The dynamics of news has undergone a sea change over the last two decades. This is reflected in the visual appeal on television and includes body language of the news anchors as well. During the monopoly of the public broadcaster in television, news anchors were news readers devoid of expressions. News was read, announced or delivered to the audience. But now anchors express news through body language. This body language helps connect with the audience. Movement of the eyes, raising of the brow or a sarcastic smile are some of the ways for an anchor to express himself or herself. For example, if there is a situation where the incompetence and sheer negligence of the police has come to light in the wake of shoddy investigation of a big crime, there is a sense of anger that naturally crops up.This is combined with the need to question the police and the administration, as to why this has happened. The press, being the fourth pillar of democracy, has the right to make the government and the administration accountable for their follies. An anchor exhibits this angst through his or her body language. It is very important to note that an anchor must strike a balance with his or her actions. He or she should not smile too much or show excessively angry expressions. It should not cross the limit, otherwise it looks artificial. Every news has its own distinct flavour which should be respected, unlike a few crime shows where anchors go over the top in terms of body language. Body language comes naturally to an anchor as it is directly linked to his or her comfort level. The more comfortable an anchor is, the more likely he or she is to express this comfort through body language. If an anchor is diffident, it is immediately reflected through the body language as the actions automatically go down. This happens because anchors get conscious. Hence, an expressive anchor reflects confidence. This comes with command over content, language and the ability to handle all crises situations in news.

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Body language is a medium of conversation where an anchor expresses himself to the audience. Some anchors have an aggressive body language, while for some softness is a virtue while anchoring. Thus, body language varies from individual to individual and from anchor to anchor, definitely giving a fresh appeal to visual presentation. Facial expressions are a major part of body language. A conversational style of body language is followed by some news anchors because stiffness in anchoring is not perceived well. When you are comfortable, your body language will reflect this ease.

Keep Eyes and Ears Open

It is a basic principle in news to keep one’s eyes and ears open. Anchors, being journalists first, also adhere to this unwritten rule. News is unpredictable; it can pour in any moment from any quarter about any subject. If an anchor is vigilant, he or she can easily add substance to the content of news. If anchors keep an avid eye on tracking news, they can be very efficient in cutting down on errors in the news content. They need to constantly coordinate between the news rundown and the news output of the studio. Presence of errors can be easily spotted and corrected either by the anchors, if possible in their domain, or by informing the desk about the subject in time. Anchors must keep their eyes and ears open for the news flashes and updates that trickle in the lower band on the television screens, especially in times of breaking news. These flashes and updates provide much needed information that helps in elaborating breaking news. For example, a building has collapsed in one of the congested areas of Delhi. As this news breaks in, there

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is limited information apart from this primary alert. Anchors start ad-libbing on it, by describing the shots and extracting information from reporters on the spot through live phonos or OBs. This results in a stream of flashes hitting the bottom band on the television screen. These flashes are full of news updates which an anchor may not have at the moment. They may include the following: • • • •

It could be about the number of dead and injured people. It could also be about the status of this multi-storeyed building. It could state whether this building was illegal or not. It could also be about the number of people trapped under the debris.

These news updates add body to the breaking news. Anchors weave and craft out a spontaneous script for the ongoing news through these updates. Keeping eyes and ears open also refers to addition of knowledge from other sources of news. This can range from viewing other competitive channels to reading a variety of newspapers and magazines to information sharing with reporters. Among a plethora of channels, sometimes one channel scores over the other in breaking news by flashing it first, while next time the other channel beats the former. By keeping an eye on the competitors, anchors get a sense of news at the earliest. Several times interpersonal talk with reporters helps gain a proper perspective about news which enriches an anchor’s knowledge. Keeping eyes and ears open also includes tapping news through wires. Wires refer to news agencies like PTI, UNI, Reuters, etc. which are major suppliers of news. These news agencies also carry important news information which is deemed credible. The internet has come up as an important resource for all sorts of information. It is of significant help to journalists,

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including anchors, as it helps access old editions of newspapers in archives, providing a wealth of information. Newspapers race with television in terms of speed of news through their web editions. Hence, online editions of major dailies are also worth looking at for major news updates. Many news organizations have an internal mail system. This is a backbone of news flow in large news organizations. It helps disseminate every bit of news among all newsmen working in a channel. News anchors keep an active eye on these mails as they are the carrier of news. An anchor can access it, even while being in the studio. This helps one be updated about the news flow. Develop a passion for news. The hunger for news will always drive you to seek more information about an issue or a news event.

Keep Bias at Arms Length

Bias in journalism is detrimental to respect and credibility. Journalistic ethos calls for guarding against all types of bias or favour towards any party, individual or institution. This applies to television news and anchors as well, calling for an approach devoid of favouritism. Journalists make political parties, leaders and public officials accountable to the people. Hence, they must strive to be impartial in their conduct. However, in today’s political scenario the situation is far from ideal with many journalists, news channels and newspapers being ideologically inclined towards various political parties. Such organizations tend to go over the top while supporting their pet cause and leave no stone unturned in criticizing the opponent party. Talking specifically about news anchors, they are the face of a news channel. They can make or break the reputation of

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a channel by their partisan or non-partisan approach. Anchors shoulder big responsibility in carrying forward and enlarging important news. They dig out various angles of breaking news with the help of various reporters and correspondents. So it is all the more important for an anchor to remain unbiased in all circumstances. For example, before the start of the Winter Session of the Parliament 2010, there was uproar over the Adarsh Housing Society scam where the then Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ashok Chavan was in the dock. The Opposition got united in cornering the government on this issue, demanding his scalp. Pressure was mounting on the ruling Congress Party and a few hours before the start of the session, Congress took Chavan’s resignation. This was a sharp move to checkmate Opposition attack. It was meant to take the steam away from the Opposition’s thunder. Here an anchor can surely point out Congress’ strategy but it shouldn’t be limited to singing Congress’ paeans alone. Ideally, anchors should see the larger picture. It was only the efforts of the united Opposition which forced the ruling party to seek the resignation of Chavan. Thus, it is the strength of Indian democracy where the united Opposition along with media pressure can force a tainted Chief Minister to quit. The moral behind this example is that anchors should always dwell on both sides of the coin. If Congress made a smart move, what would be BJP’s move to counter it? Favouritism once set in reflects immediately. There is intense competition among television channels in India. So if one channel takes sides and the others do not, this becomes evident to viewers. Partiality is not limited towards ideology but it has taken a turn for the worse through paid news. It is a malaise that has crept into the press lately. Many newspapers and TV channels have been found guilty on this count by the Press Council. It is completely against journalistic principles. Corrupt pressmen take huge

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sums of cash and benefits to print or broadcast news in favour of a party or individual. This was found during the last general elections of 2009. The Press Council and the Editor’s Guild of India slammed such news organizations for denigrating the principles of journalism. Fair treatment to all parties will raise your stature as an anchor. News organizations may have vested interests in favouring a political party, but you should try to keep yourself as unbiased as possible from the beginning. It is easy to change an organization but difficult to change your approach, if you are not inclined to it.

5 Anchoring from Different Locations

Anchoring from the Newsroom Newsroom anchoring is a challenging form of anchoring which has found foot in the last two years in India. It simply means anchoring from the newsroom which is the hub of all news activity in a news channel. This is where news is filtered, refined and processed in the news rundown which finally goes on-air. Hence, anchoring from a newsroom helps an anchor keep in touch with the pulse of the news. Anchoring from the newsroom has several advantages and disadvantages. First, let us gauge the advantages of newsroom anchoring: •

•

The biggest advantage of newsroom anchoring is that an anchor is not bound by any news script. Anchors can use this opportunity to display their extempore skills and promote their image. This is refreshing, unlike following a news script which is limited in content. Also, this does not sound bookish as some anchors tend to be while anchoring from the studio. The newsroom is the centre of development and scripting of news. Hence the anchor is in direct contact with all this activity, when anchoring from the newsroom. An output editor or bulletin editor is within easy reach of the anchor and this becomes an asset in critical news situations.

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•

•

•

The editor can directly communicate the vital news information to the anchor in the newsroom. Anchoring from the newsroom can work to an anchor’s advantage if he or she is fluent in the language and has commendable grasp over important issues. Unlike a studio, there is no teleprompter in the newsroom. Hence an anchor speaks from his or her own knowledge and understanding of news. If an anchor pulls this off well, then it turns out to be a big confidence booster. It tests his or her calibre and is an efficient way of polishing skills in today’s news scenario. Another major advantage from an anchor’s perspective is that there is a lot of room for body movement in a newsroom. This simply means that anchors are not restricted in a very tight frame like in a studio. Anchors enjoy more space for emoting and explaining in this format.

Newsroom anchoring is also fraught with several disadvantages. They are enumerated in the list that follows: •

•

The foremost is the absence of the teleprompter in the newsroom. The newsroom normally has a robotic camera which is either handled directly through the PCR (Production Control Room) or by a floor manager deputed to do shoulder camera from the newsroom. In the absence of a teleprompter, some anchors fumble on-air while doing anchor links. This may sometimes dilute the essence of news. If it goes horribly wrong it may affect the importance and effect of news. Anchoring from the newsroom becomes difficult in some critical news situations. This can be understood from the fact that an anchor doesn’t have the news bulletin rundown in front of him as it is when anchoring from the studio.

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•

The anchor does a bulletin from the newsroom in the standing format. There may be coordination problems with the PCR in the newsroom. In case of a robotic camera which is solely handled by the PCR, there is no floor manager present in the newsroom who can immediately fix the coordination problem. Also, while anchoring from the newsroom anchors may become dependent on the desk while this is not the case from the studio set-up.

To sum up, newsroom anchoring is an uplifting experience for anchors. It boosts confidence that comes from ad-libbing most of the anchor links instead of reading from the teleprompter. It helps one assess one’s potential and is very useful in improving anchoring skills.

Anchoring from an Outdoor Location Anchoring from outdoor locations has gained popularity in the last few years of Indian electronic media. It is a special form of anchoring which happens normally under extraordinary news situations. The anti-corruption drive launched by social activist Anna Hazare in 2011 was one major phenomenon which attracted wide media coverage. Many news channels sent their anchors on the spot for live coverage. This served a dual purpose as the live pictures were coming directly through the on spot camera and with the anchor being available on the spot, there was no need for the news script as he or she understood the situation fully well and crafted it aptly in words during a news show. Anchoring from an outdoor location is somewhat similar to anchoring from the newsroom, but it is still different in various ways. The main difference is that the anchor is on the spot of activity and not on the news floor. Anchoring from an outdoor location is actually a cut above newsroom anchoring, with

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no bulletin rundown like on a news floor. The anchor must have a deep understanding of the news topics, their content and news perspective before going on-air. This requires detailed discussion with the bulletin editor working on the contents of the show, prior to going live. The location chosen for anchoring usually has something to do with the special subject related to the programme. For example, a live debate is done outside the Raj Bhavan after assembly elections in any state. The backdrop of the state assembly makes all the difference as it symbolizes the shift in political power and the churnings in the political circle. However, prior permission is needed for organizing such special shows. Anchoring outdoors is similar to a news OB. The reporter’s role changes into an anchor or an anchor doubles up as a reporter. It is important to note that in such extraordinary situations, visuals gain prominence over the anchor. Anchors keep themselves alive through running commentary and live walkthroughs. During live interviews, while anchoring from the outdoor location, anchors should be deft in dealing with unwanted or publicity hungry elements. An anchor assumes a bigger role of choosing the live content that is worth going on-air. The success of anchoring from outdoor locations greatly hinges on the optimum coordination between an anchor and the PCR. It has been observed that several times talkback audio fails while anchoring from outdoors. Sometimes the PCR commands are non-reachable due to technical snags. In short, a full team which includes the anchor, PCR crew, OB engineers, cameraperson and news-desk is required for successfully anchoring from outdoors. Failure at one end is enough to ruin the show. This may spill water on an anchor’s and the entire crew’s efforts.

6 Specialized Forms of Anchoring

Anchoring in news has now branched out into several specialized fields. This is taken up mainly by those journalists who have interest only in one particular stream of news. The various streams of specialized anchoring are primarily: • • • • •

Sports anchoring Business anchoring Entertainment anchoring Lifestyle anchoring Weather anchoring

Sports Anchoring Anchors or reporters specializing in the sports beat are assigned this form of anchoring. For venturing into sports anchoring, anchors must have special interest in this field. They must be well versed with different kinds of sports. Sport is a very important beat and requires a good amount of hard work, considering the hectic schedule of various professional sports. It sparks passions and thus generates a lot of viewership for television. Sports anchors get limited screen space, with fixed time slots allotted for sports segments, unlike news anchors who do many bulletins during the day. Most news channels run sports bulletins at specific times in the morning and evening. As sports has a niche audience, people interested in sports loyally watch shows at these specific timings. Sports attracts a sizeable television audience, leading to intense competition among sports bulletins as well.

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This has opened up new opportunities for sports journalists who wish to make a mark in this specialized form of anchoring. Sports involves action. Hence sports anchoring should be peppered with lots of energy, vigour and enthusiasm. As the emotions associated with sports run high, anchors on the sports desk need to display these shades of passion in their bulletins. This helps establish a positive and friendly rapport with the audience. Sports anchors must always remember that there is no scope for dull or staid anchoring in sports. They must be good at statistics as well. Remembering landmark records in a thrice is very important for sports anchors. In most news channels, sports anchors double up as sports reporters. Hence, a sports anchor needs to be an all-rounder in terms of knowledge of all major sports. Be it onscreen or offscreen, being up to date with the latest developments in sports is a necessity. Several times, the importance and relevance of sports news is such that it transforms into breaking news. In such a situation, a sports anchor takes over the reins of the show. This implies that a sports anchor should also be capable of handling and playing over breaking news. India’s win in the Cricket World Cup in 2010 was landmark news for Indian sports. It was the biggest and most historic moment for the current crop of sports journalists in India. This marked a new era in the world of cricket, with India bagging the coveted cup after a big lull of 28 years. It was a dream come true for lakhs of cricket fans, cricket enthusiasts, former players and on a whole for a country where cricket is a religion. Seeing India as the new superpower of the cricket world was a moment of jubiliation and celebration, not only for the ordinary cricket lover but also for sports journalists who saw history being created in front of them. The entire sports team at all media channels and the print media worked overtime for this moment. For television, this was the mother of all news that

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swept the nation for weeks. How does a sports anchor approach this monumental news item? First, the sports anchor should be firing with energy, enthusiasm and a sense of celebration in his or her anchor links for this historic win. Second, thorough preparation for this must be done in terms of players’ strengths and the winning formula that led to this captivating win. Special focus on the circumstances which led to this dramatic change in team India, the role of the captain, coach and the team staff should be mentioned. Third, comparison with India’s first win at the Lord’s in 1983 should be made.Various facets can be compared and interesting parallels can be drawn. Fourth, how will this shift the dynamics of power in the world of cricket? Anchors can voice their speculations here, backed by the opinions of experts. Fifth, the role of key players and the amount of preparation that made this victory a reality should be highlighted. Sixth, a study of team performances in the past matches, like the semi-final against Pakistan should be referred to. Seventh, what made this team so hungry for the final win? This should be explored. Finally, heralding this mega win by showering praises may be the need of the hour for sports anchors, but an intelligent anchor should also focus on the need to sustain this performance in the long run. This will truly make India a champion side. Coming back to sports anchoring, this beat has gained a lot of prominence in the last decade. This has been primarily due to the hectic pace of cricket being played. Also, of late, apart from cricket there is a spurt of interest in some other games as well as athletics. This has led to several streams in sports journalism, from cricket correspondents to athletics correspondents and so on. Golf, tennis, badminton and hockey are some of the sports that have been arousing the viewer’s interest and these have slowly become an inseparable part of sports bulletins.

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Business Anchoring Business anchoring has truly come of age in the last ten years in India. It caters primarily to a niche audience having interest in capital markets, the financial health of companies and the economy as a whole. There are a plethora of business channels today, vying for the attention of this niche but seemingly growing audience. Business anchoring requires specialization in understanding consumer and capital markets, the dynamics of micro and macro economics and financial issues. Business anchors must have an exposure in the terminology of share markets and their operations in and around the world. Implications of global or Asian markets directly affect the Indian markets. Hundreds of viewers seek expert opinion on capital markets on business channels, before investing their money. This must be handled cautiously. Take the example of America’s credit rate being downgraded after the debt crisis that threatened to engulf the US economy in 2011. Rating agency Standard and Poor’s (S&P) reduced the rating from AAA to AA+ owing to the fluid situation of the US economy. How does a business anchor develop, elaborate on and highlight the gravity of the news. An anchor can say something like, The US economy is no more the most robust economy in the world. S&P has reduced the credit ratings of the economic superpower. For the first time in 70 years, America’s credit ratings have been downgraded. What does that mean? An anchor can explain this, saying that it simply means that there is a higher risk than earlier in the payment of loans taken on credit. He or she can further elaborate on its significance. What led to this change? An anchor can focus on the background of the downgrading of America’s credit ratings, by

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mentioning how the US economy was on the brink of getting mired in a debt crisis as its credit limit had expired in the first week of August 2011. America’s economy had been running on heavy credit for many years. It had no money to sustain its spending or to pay the salaries of soldiers and pensioners. But this crisis was averted as the House of Representatives approved the decision to increase the credit limit by at least $2.1 trillion and cut federal spending by $2.4 trillion over 10 years. This was later ratified by the Senate as well, paving the way for increase in credit funding. But it also led the USA to pledge to cut expenditure and increase sources of revenue in the long term. Other questions that may be raised include the following: • • • •

•

What would be the impact on other economies in the world? What would be the impact on the capital markets across the world? What would be the result on the Indian markets? Was America again on the verge of getting caught in recession? If so, then it would be the second time in the last 30 years. The effect of the 2008 recession was still not totally over. If that was the possibility, how could it affect the global economy?

Finally, what did all this mean for a small investor? An anchor could explain by saying that downgrading of the US economy’s ratings would definitely make an impact on global markets, including India. It could cause a slump in some sectors, leading to selling in stocks. The sensex could also spiral down, affecting all investors. By and large, business anchoring is spontaneous anchoring based on live cues from capital and consumer markets. There is no

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written script as such most of the times. This makes the anchoring style of business anchors largely conversational and spontaneous. Business anchors conduct a lot of live interviews for expert opinion on the market prospects and financial results of companies. This becomes a guide for many small scale investors, having a direct bearing on the stocks. Business channels also indulge in consumer education initiatives these days. A large number of consumer issues ranging from investment guidance, tax management and property opinion to entrepreneurial guidance find space in special shows. Viewers not only directly participate in these shows but also send in their queries on the future of stocks and a variety of the above listed issues. This needs business anchors to be multi-faceted so that they are well versed to deal with these consumer oriented issues. Business anchoring has a lot of scope for anchors and reporters, as there are a large number of business channels in different languages. A business anchor must be particularly sound in handling figures. Accuracy, clarity and good interpretation of figures builds the acumen to connect with the audience. Business anchoring is as challenging as news anchoring. The only difference between a news anchor and business anchor is that a news anchor’s palate of news is wide and varied while a business anchor’s range is primarily restricted to the economic, financial and consumer domain. News anchors concentrate on the impact of the common man while business anchors keep a small investor in mind while debating and assessing policies.

Entertainment Anchoring Entertainment news is a big hit with the television audience. It provides a platform for entertainment anchoring in news space. All 24 hour news channels reserve some part of their news slot for entertainment news. These are fixed slots, designed to provide entertaining stories to the news audience. It is like a dose of

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lightheartedness in the midst of serious issues dominating news bulletins. Entertainment is a distinct beat, with its own set of news from the world of glamour, films and fashion, music and entertainment. With a big horizon and widespread interest among people, entertainment shows are widely watched on news channels. This has led to enormous growth in entertainment anchoring in the last couple of years. For example, the marriage of Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai in April 2007 was one of the biggest entertainment news for Indian media. Special shows were done on the details emerging out of the grand wedding. Entertainment reporters were on their toes in April 2007 when the marriage was solemnized. The mania associated with this famous wedding continued for after a week, with the paparazzi even following the superstar couple and their family to the temple at Tirupati for exclusive visuals of them. Entertainment anchoring is for those anchors who swear by the glitzy world of entertainment. Anchoring entertainment shows can be great fun, if done with lively body language. An entertainment anchor should be good at emoting and voice modulation. Spicy stories from the world of glamour and films are a staple diet of entertainment shows. This needs a good deal of facial emotions which reflect the nature of such news. An anchor hosting an entertainment show should enjoy the news while sharing it onscreen with the viewers. This conveys the joy, passion or element of mischief or gossip embedded in an entertainment story to those watching the show. This attracts and influences the audience, building a loyal viewer base. Entertainment shows have shot into prominence as they churn out excellent TRPs or Television Ratings Points. This is mainly because there is a class of viewers who are tuned in to a big variety of cheesy stories from the world of glamour, including daily soaps and an array of reality shows being telecast on

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entertainment channels.This is directly lifted into news channels content, making it a good opportunity for those who miss such shows at their given slot. Apart from this, news about film stars, their films, and light hearted gossip is a permanent feature of such shows. Entertainment anchors should have a good understanding of the film history of the country and major cinema of the world. Knowledge about various hues of great personalities, their works and acclaimed films in India and abroad should be a part of the grooming of entertainment anchors. The tragic death of the world’s biggest music icon, the King of Pop Michael Jackson, was huge entertainment news all over the world. Jackson died on 25 July 2009 in his mansion in the USA after consuming an overdose of sleeping pills. This breaking news from the world of entertainment hogged the limelight for several days as Jackson was a legend who passed away untimely at the age of 50. This news sent shock waves around the world. An entertainment anchor shoots into prominence at this juncture. He or she is expected to have a good knowledge of Jackson’s scintillating career spanning over 30 years. An entertainment anchor who also doubles up as a reporter at such times should be ready to field some of these questions that follow: • •

•

•

When and how did the King of Pop die? What is being said about the probable cause of death? He died of cardiac arrest after acute intoxication of drug propyphenol. Could it be a case of foul play? His personal doctor Conrad Murray came in the firing line as it became evident that this was actually a case of homicide. He was investigated and charged with manslaughter. What was Michael Jackson’s influence over the world of music?

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• • •

•

•

• • •

How did he give a new identity to pop music? Which were his timeless hits that were etched as best selling albums in the history of music? Why was he revered so much? Jackson revolutionized the world of music albums through his extraordinary dancing skills. His moonwalk and his robotic dance moves were a rage that set a new benchmark for excellence. What were the controversies surrounding him? He had a troubled childhood. He was alleged to be involved in child abuse. How was his financial health? This is a pertinent question as he was under heavy debt and was rehearsing for a mega comeback in his concert ‘This Is It’ scheduled in London. What was the status of his rehearsals? Was he doing well considering his frail physical health? How would the world remember his legacy? When will he be laid to rest? Any idea about his memorial service? Here the spotlight could also turn on his personal life. He is survived by three children.

Handling all these questions requires thorough knowledge about the legend’s career, personal and professional life. Entertainment may be a light beat but events like these turn it into something as huge as any other hard news item.

Lifestyle Anchoring Lifestyle anchoring pertains to all kinds of news about the consumer world. Basically it is news which caters to several shades

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of one’s lifestyle, informing people about what’s in and what’s out in different walks of life. There is no length or breadth to this form of anchoring. Its field is wide open. It ranges from shopping, holidays, culinary shows, to health tips and just about anything that matters to people in their day to day life. Lifestyle anchoring is taken up by those anchors who prefer features and soft stories. Soft stories are those stories which are light hearted, unlike serious news. One of the most important aspects of soft stories is that these stories revolve around a person, object, institution or various traits of living and lifestyle. Also, unlike hard news lifestyle news is not dated, which makes it easier to record and play at the desired time. Lifestyle beat is for those reporters and anchors who want to explore and explain various facets of our lifestyle for the public at large. It has a vast audience as a large section of television viewers like to watch consumer oriented news. People are interested in getting the latest information about the market trends that keeps them updated about what’s in or out of vogue. There has been a discernible change in the attitude and lifestyle of the urban audience in the past few years. This has led to the growth of lifestyle channels. These channels particularly cater to the needs and luxuries of people, fashion and health among other elements pertaining to an advanced lifestyle. For example, travel and food shows are a staple diet of all programmes in lifestyle channels. Fitness is another segment that attracts a large number of viewers on lifestyle channels. There are plenty of options in lifestyle anchoring. This is because the range of lifestyle programming is quite huge. Travel shows are a huge hit with the audience. Luxury holidays and exploring distant lands is another major attraction of lifestyle programming. This offers a good chance for outdoor anchoring. Similarly, emerging fashion trends, fashion weeks and celebrity weddings have added a new dimension to lifestyle programming.

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Lifestyle anchoring is actually an enriching experience for those who are interested in it. Apart from lifestyle channels, all news channels have several shows dedicated to lifestyle. Car and bike shows or gadget shows are another mode of lifestyle anchoring quite popular among the audience. These are consumer oriented shows where there is a special forum for entertaining viewers by answering their queries. The idea behind lifestyle anchoring is to give all the variety a viewer wants at one place. Another major advantage of this form of anchoring is that it offers a lot of scope for newcomers in the field of television. It gives experience to those facing the camera for the first time. Lifestyle anchoring is generally not live, with anchor links being mostly recorded and edited before the show. It can provide exposure and a learning ground for those anchors who want to make it big in other forms of news anchoring.

Weather Anchoring Weather anchoring is the presentation of weather news of the country. It details the movement of various elements of the weather like wind, rains, formation and direction of pressure, monsoon forecast, and the prediction of natural weather phenomenon. This news is obtained from the Meteorological Department of India. Weather anchors have to be quite good with numbers. They should have good memory skills to accurately assimilate the right temperature figures for various cities in their mind. The job of a weather anchor becomes challenging as there is no set script for their bulletins. They do spontaneous anchoring but this requires preparation in terms of studying the weather charts and memorizing the figures for the major cities. One mistake in figures has the potential of ruining the entire weather telecast, as figures on weather charts are given in advance while the anchor

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ad-libs over it. Mismatch between the two can be a reason for embarrassment. Not only figures, weather anchors have to memorize India’s map as well so as to point at various regions while doing the show. Anchors look in the camera while describing the movements and directions of winds and rain on the map. They do not actually look into the map as the map is loaded from the graphics machine in the background and is not visible to the weather anchor. Hence, knowledge of the exact location of a particular state on India’s weather map is vital for making the right movement of hands. Weather anchors should be ready to bear the brunt of nature’s extremes as most of the morning and afternoon weather updates happen from the rooftop of the news building. The rooftop is chosen as the location as a clear sky is an ideal background for weather bulletins. Be it the scorching sun of summers or chilly winters, weather anchors defy nature’s fury to perform their job and they deliver bulletins with élan, even in times of excessive rain, by standing with an umbrella in hand. Those choosing to make a career in weather anchoring should be bright and spontaneous. As weather updates are popular with the audience, anchors with conversational and innovative styles help cut a friendly figure with the viewers. Many new and aspiring anchors start their career in weather anchoring and get upgraded to news or other forms of anchoring depending on their potential. The cloudburst in Leh, Jammu and Kashmir in August 2010 was the most important weather news in India’s recent history that ravaged the beautiful and peaceful region of Leh beyond imagination. It was the biggest breaking news for weather presenters as well. This was the most destructive tragedy in the history of Leh that caused huge damage in terms of loss of human lives (killing nearly 190 people), crumbling infrastructure and causing a setback to tourism. In case of such breaking news,

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weather anchors are needed as correspondents on OB along with the local correspondent at the scene of cloudburst, to detail the probable cause of such a catastrophe. Questions that weather reporters or anchors are likely to encounter are as follows: • •

• •

What is the Meteorological Department saying in terms of the probable causes of this catastrophe? Is this kind of cloudburst common in this region? What has been the history regarding such incidents in the region of Leh? Could climate change be one of the reasons behind it? How long can it last? Is there a possibility of such incidents in the nearby areas of Leh?

What are the conditions that contribute to cloudburst? One can talk about the phenomenon of cloudburst during thunderstorms. The air mass that goes up from a lower level carries a certain amount of water in it. Sometimes the air current abruptly stops moving and the water mass falls down forcefully on the surface of earth. This is called a cloudburst. The primary reason behind this is the rapid concentration of the pieces of clouds in the sky. Extreme weather conditions during scorching summer and chilly winters are another example of important weather news, highly sought out by viewers. People in many countries like the USA and the UK are highly dependent on weather forecasts for planning their schedule as these forecasts are more or less accurate.

7 Interviewing Guests

A sincere anchor is like a student who does his homework daily, without anyone asking for it. This homework pertains to reading and watching news and assimilating these facts in one’s mind. This enriches an anchor’s knowledge bank. However, there may be some interview topics that may require additional information other than what has been already garnered by reading and watching news. This calls for research in such subjects prior to the news show. This research could be about an individual, incident, disaster, important policy or anything newsworthy. Some subjects may be too complex for one to understand. Anchors can sort this out by discussing this with their senior colleagues in the newsroom, news editors or subject experts before conducting an interview. Research can also be easily done through the internet which is an unlimited treasure of information for all subjects. After gathering information about the subject through research, one must be clear about the line of questioning the interviewee. Media tries to make the political and administrative set-up accountable to the people. News anchors, being the face of a news channel, also shoulder this responsibility while conducting interviews. But anchors must take care not to sound arrogant, rude or egoistic to the interviewee. The cause behind all interviews should be to unravel the truth in public interest. The agenda of public interest should always be foremost in anchors’ minds as this helps maintain parity on issues. Interviews are vital

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as they develop news, providing several news-points to a news bulletin. Interviewing a victim calls for an emphatic outlook that does not aggravate his pain or suffering but still brings out the reality of his condition. Time management is another feature of news anchoring that must be adhered to while conducting interviews. News anchors are bound by time limits and this adheres to all interviews. Anchors get commands about timings from the director in the PCR, through a ear-piece inserted in their ear, and they must stick to these timings. This is the primary reason why some interviews are cut short, with the anchor wrapping up the issue and thanking the interviewee. These timings are strictly adhered to as they are related to the ad breaks which are a source of revenue for the news channel. Some anchors do not let the interviewee speak much or cut them short in between lines. However, some guests come with an agenda and stick to it no matter what an anchor is asking. First, anchors should avoid cutting or interrupting the guest unless it is important. If the guest sways away from the topic or subject, it is necessary for the anchor to bring the discussion or interview back on track. An anchor can interrupt by apologizing politely and steering the discussion back on track. In all, an anchor should maintain a fine balance in allowing the interviewee to speak as well as ensure that the interview remains pertinent to the subject. Anchors also have to interrupt in the middle of the guest’s answers sometimes to stick to the timeframe. Anchors should be very clear about the nature and substance of questions they plan on asking during the course of an interview. However, this rule gets a breather when anchors counterquestion the interviewee on their answers.

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An anchor can save precious time in interviews by keeping his or her questions crisp and to the point. This saves several seconds or minutes and may give additional space to the interviewee or to the anchor for asking more questions, asking the right questions in the given time and skillfully extracting answers.

8 Conducting Phonos, OBs and Interviews

Interviewing skills are an indispensable part of news anchoring today. OBs, phonos and interviews help flesh content in news. Interviews in the form of OBs and phonos help in keeping viewers updated, by unveiling new angles. This lends great importance to the art of interviewing which is not limited to in-house reporters, correspondents or the editors but also extends to experts on various subjects who are interviewed for their opinion and insight on a variety of news. These experts are either called in the studio or are available live on an OB. They can also be interviewed through an OB which takes place at a location of their convenience. OBs and phonos are a source of value addition to the news rundown as they add fresh elements to news. Most of the new anchors are initially diffident in doing phonos or OBs in news bulletins. Confidence comes with practice, and with experience one can overcome nervousness by doing adequate research and homework before going on-air. As the news rundown is made in advance and most of the news ingredients are pre-decided, 80–90 per cent of the OBs, phonos and guest interviews can be worked upon in advance. This simply means studying the subject of questioning in depth, finding more information pertaining to the topic and its various dimensions. This works very well for newcomers and also for those who aspire to make it big in news anchoring.

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The basic rule of news applies to interviewing as well. The four W’s and one H should be the basis of all questioning and reasoning. These are What, Where, Why, When and How. They are fundamental to any kind of questioning done with a reporter or a guest expert. One can never go wrong with this format as it is the essence of building news. Anchors extract vital information through interviews, phonos or OBs that take the news forward. For example, take the news of the recent bomb blast at the Delhi High Court (HC) in September 2011. The first reaction while questioning a reporter on this should involve the following questions: • •

• • •

When had the blast taken place? Where in the Delhi HC had the bomb ripped off? It must be borne in mind that the Delhi HC has a large premises, with many entry gates. What is the extent of damage so far? How many casualties are reported? Why do you think the Delhi HC is being targeted?

As this was breaking news, it had to be played for a long time with further questions like the following: • • •

What is being done right now at the spot? Is there any facility for taking the injured to hospitals? Is the area being cordoned off?

From an example of breaking news, let us now move on to an important piece of political news. Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), left for the USA for surgery. This news was not breaking news but it was a well-kept secret which came out in the media soon after. As this was important news for the ruling party and the coalition at the Centre, it shot into prominence with OBs being conducted with political correspondents. Anchors could have prepared questions on this

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topic in advance, in accordance with the formula mentioned earlier in this chapter. Questions, such as the following, could be raised: • • • • • •

What was the ailment bothering Sonia Gandhi that had necessitated surgery? Where was the surgery scheduled? When would she be leaving for the hospital? For how many days would she be out of the political scene? Who would oversee the affairs of the Indian National Congress in her absence? Why was her ailment and surgery being kept a wellguarded secret in the Congress?

Tip

It is absolutely essential for anchors to be crisp in their questioning. Time is of great value in television. With ad-breaks scheduled at fixed times, it is necessary to stick to time on a given phono or OB. Each phono or OB is allotted a set time which varies in duration, according to the significance of news. It may vary from one and a half minutes to two minutes, or may even go up to three minutes if accorded high priority. For adjusting to this time frame, anchors should keep their questions short and crisp so that they consume less time. Reporters should be advised to keep their answers precise as this saves time. It is best to discuss questions with the reporters, prior to the phono or OB. This ensures good coordination between anchors and reporters, giving both the time to frame questions and answers better. Avoid making phonos or OBs a show of your knowledge during bulletins. Listen carefully to the reporter’s answers. This may contain a minefield of news that can form the basis of further questioning, giving an altogether new perspective to the news.

9 Panel Discussions and Talk Shows

A panel discussion refers to a format of news anchoring based on the detailed treatment of one news topic, comprising a variety of guests in a news show. These guests may be political commentators, experts on various subjects or renowned editors from print media. The news anchor leads the discussion from the front on the chosen topic, eliciting views from the panelists. This calls for tremendous presence of mind and coaxing skills to steer the discussion on the right path. The topic of a panel discussion is always specific. For example, an exclusive campaign on spurious milk and sweets named ‘Meetha Zehar’ formed the subject of a panel discussion on NDTV India once. The channel exposed the mafia behind this campaign and the process of manufacturing spurious milk from highly hazardous ingredients like urea, caustic soda, detergent powder and fake oil. The panel discussion involved various guests, from doctors to representatives of milk associations to sweet sellers. Various aspects of the topic, like health hazards of consuming spurious milk and milk made products, methods of identifying spurious milk and milk products were discussed with the panelists in public interest. This discussion was a big hit with the viewers, as there were many text messages from the public applauding these efforts. Important current affairs form the basis of such panel discussions. If the issue has political overtones, representatives or spokespersons of political parties form a staple guest list for such shows. Panelists often try to outsmart their political opponent by interrupting or intervening at unnecessary points to forward

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their political agenda. This causes loss of precious time on-air in the show. As all these discussions are mostly live, there is no scope of editing or cutting out unimportant parts. Hence, the news anchor assumes a greater role of an on-air editor, who ensures that the panelists do not engage in unwanted wrangling. Anchors play a crucial role as they not only ensure that all participants get adequate time to express their views, but also steer the discussion so that the news topic gets further developed. This results in various news points taking the news further. Time management and sticking to ad breaks is another important responsibility on an anchor’s shoulders. Sometimes panelists may be too charged up in the midst of heated discussion and they may not yield to an anchor’s request to stop for a break or allow other panelists to air their views. In such a case, anchors should ensure that all participating panelists are given time to express their opinion and see that the show is not one-sided. The difference between a panel discussion and a talk show is that a panel discussion is limited from two to five guests in general, while a talk show has wider participation. In a talkshow, the number of panelists may vary above five but most importantly it includes the participation of the audience. This audience is comprised of the general public who wish to speak and participate in a debate. An anchor’s role in this case becomes all the more challenging as he or she has to manage and moderate between panelists as well as audience members. Some of these shows are recorded and edited before being put on-air. Another difference between a panel discussion and a talk show is that while a panel discussion is mainly on a current affairs topic, a talk show may be on any subject. It may cover various socio-cultural issues as well for debates.

10 Reading a Teleprompter

Seasoned anchors read a teleprompter like a pro; it is child’s play for them. To understand the nuances of mastering this art, one must first understand what a teleprompter is. A teleprompter is a device installed in the camera facing the anchor in a news studio. It is also referred to as the TP. The script is loaded in this TP through a computer software, to be read out by anchors on-air. The script is arranged on the TP, as it appears in the rundown preceded by the slug name. The slug name is the name given to a particular news item in the list of news called the rundown. An outstanding anchor is one who doesn’t let the audience know that he or she is reading out from the TP. Rather, the audience is given the impression that the anchor is talking on his own. But this does not mean that everything that goes on-air or everything an anchor says is part of the written script on the TP. In a round the clock news format, anchors put in a lot of personal effort in terms of the spontaneous script done extempore while speaking on-air. The key is that viewers should not be able to distinguish between the two. Reading out from the script and spontaneous effort should look as good as the same. This comes with practice but there are certain tips that make an anchor comfortable while reading the TP. One should not read from the TP like reading from a book. This can be guarded against by erasing the concept of reading altogether from one’s mind. Anchors should take it as an interaction with the audience. This is easy to say but difficult to achieve. It is possible if one works hard on it. This depends on the comfort zone of an anchor in front of the camera. In breaking news

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situations, the TP in front of the anchor is blank and anchors have to manage and carry on through their own knowledge and understanding of news. The second way of getting comfortable with the TP is by reducing one’s dependence on it. The more an anchor depends on the TP, the more likely he or she is to make mistakes if there is an editorial mistake in the script loaded in the TP or if there is some technical snag in this device. So if anchors depend less on the TP and more on themselves, then handling the TP becomes comparatively easier. The TP is run manually, either by an anchor or a team member from the PCR crew. The concept has now changed in most of the channels where anchors themselves run it through primarily two means. One method of running the TP is through a foot pedal. This pedal can be identified as being similar to the accelerator pedal of a car. One has to run and stop it as per one’s pauses. The other way of operating a TP is through the use of hand control. As the name suggests, it is a device operated by the hands, not feet. This is usually used when doing bulletins in the standing format. One important feature of this device is that it has a button to go on a previous link which is not there in the foot pedal. This is a big advantage of hand control. But this hand control needs to be very carefully handled as it is scarce in supply. It operates on a specific frequency due to which it cannot be easily procured in bulk. Anchors need to keep a continuous tab on the TP. This means tallying the rundown with the TP script. The news rundown is loaded in the laptop placed in the studio. A vigilant anchor always checks and tallies the two. For smooth anchoring, coordination between the rundown on laptop and TP is absolutely necessary. A small error in this coordination can cause a big error on-air and that is why it requires a high level of observation and attention.

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An ideal way to master the TP is by checking out all the scripts in advance. This minimizes the scope of errors while reading on-air. It also familiarizes the anchor with the news content. This helps an anchor manage the situation in the event of an editorial or technical snag. A technical snag can cause the TP to stop functioning midway or the software may just not update the editorial content. All this can cause a big crisis if an anchor is not already well versed with the news script, its gist and the editorial line adopted in it.

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Preparing for a Career in Anchoring

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11 Brutal Truth About the Television News Business

Television is an alluring medium for lakhs of students who dream of making it big in this fast-paced world of news. A career in electronic news is a highly sought out avenue these days. But television is actually a mirage which appears glamourous from the outside but is very different from the inside. It is a harshly demanding career that entails loads of hard work, perseverance and a spark for cutting-edge performance. Television news is a severely competitive business. Journalism has a strong social dimension aimed at promoting people’s interests, putting forward their concerns and thus acting as an agent of change. But this social responsibility is equally balanced by some tough business rules that demand returns and results. Electronic news is an instant medium and this has made anchoring, reporting and other areas of work a challenging task to execute. The challenge lies not just in performing to one’s best potential, but also in meeting the demands that this profession has from television journalists. News is live 24 × 7 and this has increased the pressure levels on television journalists. It would be prudent to pore over some facts before embarking on a career in news anchoring. News happens 24 × 7 around the clock. Be prepared to work at any time of the day and sometimes for days and weeks at a stretch, without a weekly off. Personal priorities take a back seat at the beginning of the career as newcomers are loaded with work

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so as to familiarize them with the pressure situation in a newsroom. This could be grinding initially but helps in the long run. News channels work 365 days a year. So it would be futile to expect any national holidays in news organizations. While everyone may be enjoying themselves at home, a television news journalist may be deployed on duty. Personal pleasures may be curtailed for work. Though leave can be availed in advance, there are several occasions when many people in the department vye for leave at the same time. This may leave one’s plans in the lurch owing to a crisis at office. Foray in television news demands a very high degree of commitment. Even in the event of a personal crisis or ill-health, if a suitable replacement is not arranged on time, an anchor may have to report to office. It is important to understand that news has to go throughout the day. The channel cannot stop its functioning due to some personal tragedy. In difficult conditions, a necessary replacement is arranged for by the person in need before proceeding on leave. Anchors should also be prepared to rush to the workplace at a single call as breaking news has no time. This is called a time of a crisis. This crisis happens mostly when big news breaks and requires a greater pool of people to handle it. This could also be as a result of unavailability of experienced or seasoned staff to handle important news. Just like a jawan marches on one call from the regiment, a television journalist is expected to rush in at the need of the hour. This holds equally good for news anchors and every one associated with the production and broadcast of television news. Another brutal reality of television news is the absence of fixed shifts. This simply means no set schedule for work. The work schedule changes every week and this leads to working in different shifts during a month. Shifts are broadly divided into four categories—mornings, mid, evening and night. This simply

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means that in a span of four weeks or 30 days, one may be doing all these shifts in rotation. Irregular work schedule in television takes a toll on personal engagements or pre-determined programmes. This is a primary reason behind journalists in television ruing about the absence of a personal life. However, some news channels also work with a system of fixed teams for different slots of news. This implies dividing the total work strength in small teams to work on particular slots. This is slightly better than the weekly change in shift rosters. The primary reason for this is that once introduced, slot specific teams work on a long-term basis. They are responsible for the results and TRP ratings of the slot. This system does not apply to the night shift. As it is difficult to work throughout the night, this shift changes every week. Coming back to the system of weekly change in shifts, it is important to note that one may have to come at different times in a single week as per the requirement and demands of a particular shift. This is assessed and decided by the head of the department, who manages the rosters. Television requires long working hours as compared to other professions. One shift is usually of 9–10 hours duration and sometimes this gets stretched by a few hours owing to breaking news, resource crisis or unavailability of required work strength in the team. Long working hours coupled with irregular work routine directly affects the body clock of journalists working in electronic media. Deterioration in health has been noted in several cases. High pressure sometimes results in hypertension. Journalists also complain of disorders affecting the spine. This is observed especially in journalists working at the news desk in television news who sit continuously for several hours at a stretch at their work stations or computers assigned for news scripting and production. Overall, in the absence of a regular routine, irregular eating habits are developed which prove detrimental to health and may lead to low immunity.

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There is very little scope for errors in the serious business of news. This is applicable for all television journalists including anchors, reporters, desk persons and the technical team. Errors erode credibility in the news organization. Venturing in a news career calls for a high degree of seriousness and commitment towards one’s goals. A long experience and exposure to television makes one addicted to news. This addiction is so powerful at times that when avoided, it contributes to a sense of guilt. This guilt could emanate from losing touch of the day’s happenings, newspapers or news bulletins. Many reporters have confessed that this addiction to news hampers their personal life in several ways. This could affect one’s enjoyment of pleasures. It sometimes causes a clash between personal and professional priorities.

12 Creating the Résumé and the Tape

The first step towards anchoring starts from anchoring auditions. Most of the news channels today take auditions for the post of an anchor. This holds good especially for aspiring anchors, anchors with relatively less experience and reporters who get promoted to anchoring. Several times a news channel may also seek a recorded tape from the candidate to assess his or her anchoring skills. This tape or CD holds a lot of significance in getting the anchor the job. This CD is actually recorded news done at any of the news studios. It basically applies to those anchors who have some experience in anchoring and want to move up the ladder. The tape is basically a specimen of a candidate’s anchoring prowess that throws light on an anchor’s potential. Most aspiring anchors wonder about the formula for making a winning tape. They should put their best foot forward in terms of news delivery, pure diction, right pauses, voice modulation and a sober attire with soft make-up. There should be no space for any flaws in it. However, a winning tape alone cannot ensure an anchor’s job. A proper interview for assessing the knowledge of current affairs and understanding of news is conducted. It may also happen that the news organization may take an audition after assessing the tape, to test the candidate’s grasp and ability to handle live news. The anchoring tape should have diverse shades of the candidate’s anchoring skills. It would be ideal if the candidate attempts to show his or her versatility through the topics covered in the anchoring tape. This can range from politics, sports, news, not

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to forget the entertainment part. The reason behind keeping entertainment news or features in the tape is to show the aspiring anchor’s range of expressions. An expressive anchor always stands a better chance in getting selected among a pool of aspiring anchors. It would be a bonus for a candidate if he or she can add some reporting stand-up in this tape. This can work to one’s advantage, adding to the candidate’s credibility as a journalist. A journalist who has worked in the field gets preference among those who have only worked in air-conditioned studios. Also, an anchor who has slogged hard in the field as a reporter understands the ground reality better and this gives a definite edge to one’s anchoring career. It must be noted that anchoring, being a specialized job, is generally not offered to newcomers instantly in large news organizations. They are first familiarized with the concept and working of a news set-up and then groomed for anchoring. Hence, candidates aiming to make it big in the domain of anchoring should polish their journalistic skills to equip themselves first with the basics of journalism, news principles in the electronic media and work ethics.

13 Dressing Appropriately

An anchor is the face of the channel and he or she should look best when on-air. This is possible through the right mix of wardrobe, make-up and positive body language. It is well said that the first impression is the last impression. This first impression should be impeccable in terms of wardrobe and body language. Most of the large scale news organizations have a dress code for their anchors. This wardrobe can be western or Indian but it should reflect elegance. Busy prints, embroidery or flashy patterns disturb the eyes. Hence, care should be taken to choose pleasant and preferably plain clothes. Solid shades in good cuts work well on screen. The outfit should be well ironed and there should be no creases in it. Therefore, care should be taken in choosing the right fabric for the outfit. For auditions or interviews, it is better to adhere to the corporate dress code. This looks chic and is easy to handle as there is lesser scope for creases in western attire. A blazer with trousers or corporate shirts gives a fair advantage over Indian dresses during interviews and auditions. Jewellery and accessories should be basic. Pearls are best suited for this occasion. Being the most elegant and graceful among all jewels, pearls add a glow to one’s personality. Many anchors experiment with heavy accessories and neck pieces, but those going for auditions can go safe with pearls or a gold string. Coming to make-up, it should be basic and gaudy shades should be avoided. One should not look cakey or over-layered with make-up on-air. Make-up is done by professionals in news channels, but it is generally kept light and basic. While preparing

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for an audition or interview, one should enhance facial features but preference should be given to softer shades. Some anchors have their eyes highlighted while some have their cheek bones well defined. This depends on one’s facial features which should be utilized to one’s advantage. For male anchors, too much make-up is not needed. A foundation base and powder is enough to go on-air. Body language is a personal trait that varies from individual to individual. For aspiring anchors, an open-minded attitude along with a positive mind helps in moving forward. Anchors are a part of a team, so their body language should be friendly and congenial. Congenial body language also reflects on screen and helps in winning over the audience. But this should not be substituted for a meek or docile approach as anchors need to be aggressive at times during breaking news. Aspiring anchors should be careful that their body language does not appear too flambuoyant or over the top. It is good to be understated, yet confident for the beginning.

14 Facing the Camera for the First Time

The camera in the news studio is an anchor’s link to the target audience, depending on the nature and size of a news channel. Facing the camera for the first time is a challenging task for most beginners in anchoring. Looking into the camera to dish out news makes many beginners go weak. This experience is usually filled with diffidence and uncertainty. But practice makes an anchor perfect and this gradually paves the way for transformation from diffidence to confidence. My first rendezvous with the news camera took place at a local news channel which produced city bulletins. I started early and was freelancing for this channel, while pursuing my journalism studies. Facing the camera for the first time made me trepid, but the strong intent of learning and excelling in the art of news anchoring made me overcome all my nervousness. This was a small platform which was devoid of any air conditioning which is an essential part of any news studio. Sometimes I would be reading the news with my face looking sweaty, due to the scorching heat of the summers. There was no teleprompter (a device that carries the news script on camera) at that set-up and I was required to read out a hand-written news script. But working at this modest set-up groomed me for facing all kinds of hardships that one may encounter later at a bigger news channel. This initial familiarity with the camera helped a great deal in raising my level of confidence and increasing my comfort zone. Finally, when

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I had to face the camera at a bigger platform, I felt quite prepared. My first stint also polished my speaking skills, helping me understand the importance of giving the right pauses at the right time. This experience of nearly one year at a local news platform became my strength against other competing anchors at the national news channel, which I joined after completing my journalism studies. This was the official start of my career and I was brimming with confidence. My advice to all anchoring aspirants would be to stop considering the camera as a demon or enemy. Do not shy away from it but talk to it as though you are talking to a friend. This will increase your comfort zone while facing the camera. Remember, the camera is just a device and there is no reason to feel jittery in front of it. You can also rehearse with mock news drills on your personal video camera. This can be a handy cam or your mobile camera which can record your mock news bulletin. You can watch this later and the errors can be identified and rectified with practice. Closely observing anchors on-air in news channels will sharpen your understanding of diction and the importance of giving the right pauses. Don’t copy or ape anyone but develop your own style or way of delivering news. The fear of the camera can also be overcome by rehearsing in front of the mirror. Read aloud news items while facing the mirror and this will help you get in the momentum that is required for facing the camera.

15 The Right Emotion for the Right Story

Anchoring is a conversation with the television audience. News has varied shades from hard news, soft news, news features based on people’s problems or individual feats to human interest stories sharing their happiness, grief and sorrow. There are different flavours from consumer oriented news, sports updates, business insights to entertainment stories. All this should reflect in an anchor’s tone and expressions and should be communicated well to the audience. This is possible only through emotions. Each news is different in perspective and effect and emotions are the only medium to put it aptly before the audience. Emotions convey the intensity and impact of news. Therefore, anchors must be skilled to bring in a variation in their emotions as per the nature of the news items. Expressionless or emotionless anchoring does not cut any ice with the television audience. Emotions convey the intended message, easily making the audience realize the degree of importance of news. For example, four children have sustained burn injuries after being caught in a fire. This is a really tragic occurrence. It should not be delivered like hard news. An anchor should sound sympathetic. Similarly, when an eminent musician has died anchors are not supposed to announce it with a smile. News of A. R. Rahman bagging the coveted Oscar for his music in Slumdog Millionaire was a moment of national jubilation for the country. Rahman made history by clinching two Oscars at the same time. This was a big honour for the Indian

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music industry. It was breaking news that dominated the news space on all Indian channels throughout the day. If an anchor delivers this news in a casual or dull manner, it will kill the whole mood of rejoicing and celebration that engulfed the nation. An element of joy and enthusiasm should be evident in the anchor’s links and expressions which should reflect the mood of the nation. Inappropriate emotions from anchors attract criticism. Excessive emotions also make anchors look artificial and wean away the audience. It also reflects an anchor in negative light. Some anchors hosting specialized shows overreact or over emote which is unwarranted. As an anchor you must strike the right balance in displaying emotions that are just appropriate, neither over nor less. For achieving this balance, you should always watch news recordings of experienced anchors keenly.

On the Road to Being Successful

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16 Anchoring Secrets

In a live news format, anchors come across several tricky or difficult situations that require special attention during anchoring. At these times, the anchor’s mettle or intelligence is really tested. All experienced anchors have special tricks up their sleeve which help smooth away the irritants that may crop up during the course of anchoring. Before dwelling on how to act and react under such circumstances, aspiring anchors must understand the nature of problems that usually surface during anchoring. It can range from snapping of communication between an anchor and the PCR director, failure of the mike audio, collapse of the technical software used in the PCR to the lack of coordination between an anchor link and the visual story played. Thinking on the feet and fast reaction is the key to smart anchoring. Some anchors modulate their voices and put emphasis on words to take a breath and steal a few seconds to figure out the magnitude of the problem. Some convey the problem in sign language to the director while visuals are being played. This is majorly used when an anchor can’t communicate verbally. An intelligent anchor does not let the existence of any trouble trickle down to the viewers. It simply means that he or she on sensing trouble does not let the viewers sense or understand what is amiss. The most important trick that must be pursued at this juncture is to ensure that the anchor’s own news flow is not hampered or broken on being influenced by the problem. This may be difficult as it is a basic human tendency to react to something not normal, but the key is to just carry on with the news.

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Here, personal knowledge of the anchor on the concerned subject proves very handy. Retaining one’s composure in times of crisis is a big asset that must be developed. Smart anchors emote and cover up for editorial or technical errors. This is a very vital responsibility bestowed upon them. Its importance can be understood by contrasting it against a classic case of mismatch between an anchor-link followed by the visual story. Both are interlinked and the anchor link is actually supposed to explain the gist of particular news, followed by the details in the visual story. Mismatch between the anchor link and visual package is a reason for embarrassment. For example, there is news regarding ICICI raising its base rate by 25 basis points. The anchor announces this in the link while the visual package is about Rahul Gandhi touring the villages of Uttar Pradesh slamming Mayawati’s government. The PCR and anchor realize this as soon as the package plays. Usually some directors cut out of the wrong package abruptly. Here it is an anchor’s responsibility to cover up and ensure that the viewers get the news in the right perspective. This can be done by giving a lead out regarding the Rahul Gandhi story. It can be further rectified by playing the ICICI visual package. If playing the ICICI package is not possible, one can give some info about it and carry on with the rest of the rundown. Similarly, wrong shots can play over headlines indicating a mismatch in the spoken text and the visuals that play over it. How does an anchor react in such a situation? Some anchors keep mum but that is never a good option. An anchor has to react immediately in a span of two seconds at maximum. This means that the anchor must stop reading the wrong text and phrase the right headline text there automatically in two-three seconds. The anchor has to not only phrase but also say it before that particular headline gets finished. There is no time to write it.

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This may sound exaggerated but a headline text is itself of 12–15 seconds. So anchors are expected to be extremely quick in covering up for such goof-ups. This demands great presence of mind.

17 Avoiding Common Mistakes

News anchoring is a coveted career. Hitting the right notes in the right direction will accelerate an anchor’s career while a few wrong decisions or an unwarranted approach can lead to a big setback. As evident in the Indian news space, there is cut-throat competition among news channels and if anchors being the face of a news channel commit serious mistakes, it can jeopardize their own career in the industry. One of the foremost mistakes that can set back an anchor’s career is the adoption of a partisan or biased approach. Anchors should not belittle the viewers’ intelligence by assuming that whatever is spoken or served as news will be received with the same sentiment. The audience viewing the news have their own intelligence and they can easily see through any partial approach aimed at benefitting or harming some party, institution or individual. This becomes all the more evident due to severe competition among news channels, with each channel exercising its resources to dish out exclusives and explore unseen truths or angles in a news story. So if one anchor or channel is biased in its approach while others are not, then the credibility of both the anchor and the channel is served a blow. It takes years to build a reputation but only a few minutes to destroy one. Fumbling or slipping of the tongue means mispronunciation and breaking of words into unpleasant syllables. It doesn’t only happen in case of difficult pronunciations, but can also take place with the easiest of words normally spoken. This may be waived off as normal if it occurs sometimes but repeated fumbling irks the audience. This simply puts off viewers’ interest, leading them

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to switch to other channels. Hence, anchors must guard against fumbling, by being cautious and conscious about each word spoken on-air. Lacklustre performance at the time of crunch or highly crucial and sensitive news can negatively affect anchors’ careers. A high pressure situation ideally demands a stellar performance that keeps the viewers riveted to their seats, watching the channel without reaching for the remote. Some anchors fizzle out or go blank under high pressure. The enormity of the subject overpowers them, leading to fumbles, inappropriate questions and sometimes irresponsible or far-reaching statements. This is taken note of by the management and can impact one’s career. An anchor faces flak if he or she makes repeated factual mistakes. Facts should always be double-checked, not from one source but multiple sources. These sources could be newspaper articles, website updates on newspaper websites, reporters and peer channels. All news channels follow a uniform practice of following their competitors’ news content. Hence, an eye on the flash content of other news channels is a good idea for confirming particular news. It would be excellent if it is adopted as a habit for all news stories. Lack of sensitivity in anchors also shows them in bad light. People’s interest should be the guiding principle behind every news approach. It is pertinent to keep the nature of our society and social fabric in mind while speaking extempore on issues like communalism, patriotism, right wing and left wing extremism, religious sentiments and human rights. A small deflection from the middle line can attract trouble in the form of unnecessary litigation and criticism. News channels hold the political class responsible, bring out the social evils, and ensure accountability on the part of law enforcing agencies like the police. An insensitive approach towards any of these issues may invite the ire of any of these institutions and peoples. News anchors should therefore always show sensitivity towards people’s causes.

18 Transitioning from Reporting to Anchoring

Anchoring is a very responsible and challenging job. Most big news organizations look for anchors who have some experience in news, who understand the importance and context of news and are mature enough to handle any sort of news. This is why it is generally not offered to newcomers before they prove their mettle. It also means that one who aims to make it big in the field of news anchoring should start by gaining experience in other streams of television journalism where there is scope to display one’s talent. This would help in getting noticed for anchoring. Reporting is one area which gets a lot of screen space. This is one of the main reasons behind many reporters getting elevated to the status of anchors. In an age of maximum utilization of one’s potential, anchors and reporters are made to frequently interchange their profiles. So a good reporter stands a decent chance of getting promoted to anchoring. Reporters are generally expected to speak on a variety of subjects and this stands them in good stead for anchoring. They get familiar with camera and speaking extempore during phonos and OBs. This wipes away the screen fear, shoring up their confidence. Reporters also know how to handle difficult or crisis situations on ground. This helps a lot while anchoring. A reporter who wants to make a transition to anchoring should bear the following things in mind while being on the job in the field.

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A good screen presence always catches the management’s attention. For this, one can start by dressing well for reporting. It does not mean wearing full length suits for going out in the field, but a careful choice of clothes can make a difference. This can be done by choosing colours which bring out the best look and reflect a corporate savvy look. Apart from dressing, one should focus on maintaining oneself well. Nobody likes to see overweight or lousy personalities on-air. Some attention towards keeping oneself fit also inspires confidence. A reporter who aims to switch to anchoring should be articulate in his or her conversation and observations on-air. This helps introduce clarity of a reporter’s mind which can make him or her a savvy anchor. Reporters possess the gift of the gab or they are made to develop it, owing to their responsibilities on the field. This should be cultivated more, for sound but calibrated anchoring. A reporter can be excellent on field but shudder in front of the camera in the studio. This can be countered by rehearsing for anchoring. Reading the news script aloud with adequate pauses would make reporters more comfortable while anchoring. Reporters should understand that unlike a news story, there is no chance of retakes in anchoring. A reporter signs off a news story with his views in the PTC or piece to camera. This PTC can be recorded several times in a news chip until the best take is done. But this is not the case with news anchoring as it is completely live.

19 Recovering from Failure

Failure is a great teacher. Adversities hit hard but help in cultivation of courage to strike back, making one learn from past mistakes. This applies to news anchors as well. News anchoring is a truly visible medium where success and failure are almost instant. Non-performance is easily gaugeable and this invites spontaneous reaction from the management. News anchors, being the face of the channels, cannot afford to make mistakes repeatedly. In times of severe competition among news channels, many anchors are unable to live up to the pressure built up. This paves the way for their decline. It is important to deal with failure in anchoring, in a similar way that one deals with failure in any other profession. The difference lies in how to go about it. For understanding this, one must introspect over the kinds of failure in this field. It could be lack of command over language, incomplete or biased understanding of the news issue, absence of polished vocabulary or inability to keep up with the energy level in demonstration, and body language, fumbling under pressure or going blank at the need of the hour. Failure should be tackled by reading and enriching one’s knowledge. Knowledge boosts self-confidence which helps one pass through and overcome hard times. Success or failure is the manifestation of one’s state of mind. Anchors should not let the flame of their confidence go dim or get extinguished in hard times. Failure can be tackled only through one’s self-confidence and self-belief, by assessing means that can help one reinstate the lost sense of hope and possibility.

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This can be achieved through hard work. There are no substitutes to hard work and those who take recourse to shortcuts often fizzle out in the long run. Hard work reinstates self-belief, bringing back confidence and the courage to face the world with the head held high. Meditation is another tool for repairing lost faith in one’s self. Everything is possible only if we truly want it. This want must be desperate and realistic for the subconscious mind to accept it. If the subconscious accepts it to be true and possible, nothing can stop one from being successful. Failure may be a detested word but it acts as a trigger for introspection. Assessment and analysis of one’s mistakes helps refine skills that enrich one’s experience.

20 Getting Better at Anchoring

A promotion is a big motivation for all professionals and is equally desired by news anchors. An anchor who attains primary experience in a small news organization would like to jump to a bigger news organization for a growth in career. Also, after some years at a particular news organization, a feeling of saturation may set in which may prod anchors to move from one news channel to another. Promotion within the channel or moving to a bigger and reputed channel is a significant milestone in every anchor’s career. It defines growth and results in a rise in emoluments and appreciation that is ultimately a proof of an anchor’s ability and influence in an organization or among news channels. Promotion or moving to a bigger news channel demands a stellar performance from anchors. News anchoring is a medium of mass communication that brings instant name and fame. An anchor makes a niche for himself or herself through his or her work which is widely noticed in the market. This directly depends on one’s performance and grasp over news. Deft handling of breaking news and effective interpretation of current affairs enhances an anchor’s image in the news business. News being a medium of mass communication is not just watched by the masses but also by peers and competitive channels. The impact of news is huge but when it comes to the job scenario in news, it is fair to say that it is a small world. Breaking news and critical situations bring out the best in an anchor and this is closely followed by competitors. Therefore, the chance of promotion within one’s organization or shifting from a smaller channel to a

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bigger and prestigious channel is completely dependent on one’s handling of news. Networking plays an important role in today’s corporate world. This holds true for news channels as well. Good connections among the journalist fraternity should be cultivated as this helps in rising up the ladder of success. Good relations with peers in news organizations help one build an impressive image that can play a crucial role in bagging an opportunity of promotion or shift from one news channel to another.

21 Sustaining a News Anchoring Career

The news space on Indian television is fiercely competitive. Every channel is jostling for viewer attention and this leads to a race for finding the best content to be delivered by the best of anchors. Hence there is cut-throat competition among anchors not only in the industry but also among anchors in the same channel. At first, it is hard to find a place to make a name as an anchor. Talent is the prerequisite but talent alone is not sufficient for being a news anchor. Confidence, knowledge, command over language along with a sharp mind are essential for being an anchor. Presence of these traits along with a good performance helps one find feet in this industry. Finding feet alone is not an achievement but making a name for oneself is the real challenge. This is achieved through consistent hard work and sustained performance. News anchoring is like a sharp edged sword where the best survive. Only those who have the mettle shine in the long run. Anchoring icons of Indian television like Prannoy Roy, Vinod Dua and Rajdeep Sardesai have all built a name and reputation to reckon with. These are some of the stalwart anchors of our times. Their extraordinary anchoring and journalistic sense have refined over the decades, making them the best in the industry. Every channel wants good anchors. Anchors who can handle any crisis, any situation, are in demand in every news channel. It is a real challenge to be an anchor who can be banked upon. Those who overcome this challenge survive the test of time.

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Anchoring is a task where a word spoken cannot be taken back. An anchor can’t hide his or her mistakes on-air as all news is live. So caution, precision and excellence are the factors that help one touch greater heights in one’s career. Simply put, being the best is not easy. It requires constant homework, irrespective of one’s work schedule and engagements. Every day is a new beginning and each day leaves its imprint in the form of various news and events. An anchor evolves as a better professional through experience. Competition inspires better performance and it is in one’s interest if this competition is healthy and is with oneself. The effort on the part of an anchor should be to raise the bar every time he or she walks in the studio to perform. For this, an anchor should examine his or her tapes continuously to identify the weak points and build on the strong points. This process actually leads to improvisation, slowly and steadily bringing out the best over a period of time. Anchors should also keep an eye on their competitors as well. Every anchor is special in his or her own way. One must learn from others for personal development.

22 Learning on the Job

Learning is a road that never ends. There are no limits or boundaries to learning as it is an asset which is never enough. It should never cease as it rewards with knowledge and wisdom, contributing to personal growth and development. The day the urge to know more dries up, learning stops, blocking one’s rise in the long term. It is a principle that applies to all professions, for people in all careers. The same holds for anchors and journalists at large. Anchoring is challenging and each day brings different kinds of challenges unheard or unimagined so far. Experience brings in confidence but it should not snowball into overconfidence. This overconfidence sometimes adversely affects the urge to learn and evolve. Knowledge is infinite and no one can call himself or herself supreme. However, continuous learning widens one’s horizons. In the news scenario, breaking news has no time, place or occasion. It just pops up any time and dominates the news space. It can be about anything. Sometimes the dimension of news is so humongous that it is completely beyond one’s imagination, irrespective of experience. One such landmark event was the 9/11 attack on the world’s most powerful nation. The myth of the infallibility of America was shattered. It changed the face of terror across the globe and also changed the world’s approach towards terrorism. This was the biggest news event of this century. No anchor or newsman could have imagined or been prepared beforehand for something like this. So it is good to update oneself. Knowledge has no boundaries and the urge to learn is helpful in an anchor’s work. This helps sail through difficult situations.

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Talking in terms of the Indian context, we will dwell on the bloodiest terror attack on the nation.The attack on 26 November 2008 did not just target Mumbai, but shook the entire nation. This was evident in the news coverage as well across all news channels. It was a totally unprecedented situation that was not experienced in this country before. This was new to Indian news channels as well. For anchors, it called for excellent presence of mind, command over language, empathy and superb confidence. This was a performance that was changing every moment and had all eyeballs glued to the news channels. It taught many lessons that were new to Indian journalists. For example, some news channels were giving live footage of the commando action at one of the terror-hit sites, Nariman point in Colaba, Mumbai. There was running commentary by some news anchors about how the commandoes were functioning, their action plan gathered by reporters. This proved detrimental, as the heads of these terrorists sitting across the border in Pakistan were keeping a close eye on Indian channels. They were continuously on the phone with the terrorists who had taken people hostage at Nariman point. The information disseminated by this live coverage helped the terrorists. This was realized later. It was an important lesson learnt by this deadly episode. Learning alone is not enough for news anchors. One must absorb and assimilate this knowledge by adding it to one’s memory bank. It is not possible to memorize each and everything, but important events, their reasons and implications should be kept in mind for future reference. Continuous learning has an excellent psychological effect that brings in satisfaction. This sense of satisfaction is borne out of the fact of working towards further growth. This promotes confidence to deal with the toughest situations in news, leading to success in career.

23 The Mantra for Success

What makes an anchor successful in news anchoring? It is a million dollar question for not only those aiming to make a mark in anchoring, but also those who are struggling to find a niche in this industry. Enjoyment is the real mantra of success in any profession in today’s world. Enjoy what you do and do what you enjoy. Success will follow once an individual starts liking one’s work to an extent that he or she is willing to invest any degree of hard work into it. Anchors can scale big heights in this field if they actually derive pleasure from what they do on-air. Love your work and accolades will pour in. Hard work has been the hallmark of my achievements so far and I have truly loved being on-air. It is the charm of interacting with my audience and the drive to dish out something extra to them that has made a bond with my viewers that I will cherish forever. This should not be perceived as the hunger to be famous. Rather, the whole process of communication with a large number of people is very endearing to me. Give your best to whatever you take up in your career. This does not mean that all hard work invested in your work or career will always bear fruit. But it fetches a rare satisfaction of having tried your best, of not leaving to chance anything in your capacity. Further, it will eliminate the scope of any guilt that may mar your conscience. Hard work always pays in the long run and is always appreciated by peers. Success may come late but do not lose focus or waver from your vision. The sense of achievement on your own strength is a very precious one.

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Dare to dream and turn your dreams to reality by the power of your ability, hard work and will power. It is often said that energy follows thought. Think of success, wiping out all negativity from the mind as negative thoughts give rise to doubts hampering the vision of success. Invest your time in your passion, see your dreams unfold in reality. All you have got to do is to believe in yourself. Be true to yourself as you can cheat the world, but not your conscience. If the conscience is honest, the heart is dreaming and the mind is brimming with self-belief, nothing can impede the road to glory.

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Experts Speak

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24 Words of Wisdom Rajdeep Sardesai Editor-in-Chief, CNN-IBN

What Does One Need To Be a Successful News Anchor? In my opinion, news anchors need to have a passion for news. They need to be excited about news. The distinction between a news anchor and a news reader is as follows: First, a news anchor is not a news reader. He or she reflects the mood of news like anger, happiness, tragedy and other shades of passion. A news anchor is a good communicator who has a story in the form of news to tell. Second, news anchors need to have excellent communication skills. Different anchors have different kinds of communication skills as these skills are a bridge to reach out to the viewers. Third, a news anchor needs to have credibility. His or her words carry weight and reflect the news in all its gravity. There is a difference between a news anchor and an entertainment anchor who sports an exciting and casual approach of interaction with the audience. Good news anchor must not imitate others. One should reflect one’s own personality while being on-air. Most anchors try to imitate others but its good to be oneself to create your own place.

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Good news anchors are those who constantly need to improve. Anchoring is a 365-day job. News is varied in its nature and impact, but is important in its own way. Be it a tragedy in Kashmir or a World Cup win in cricket, anchors need to be all-rounders who can deal with all kinds of news situations. How Can You Excel in Interviewing? The key to this is 1. to ask the right questions 2. to be a good listener

Some news anchors consider themselves bigger than the story, bigger than the interviewee and larger than life. This is obviously not the right approach towards anchoring. A good news anchor draws out a story from the interviewee. News is extracted out of the person being interviewed. In OBs one should be an observer. It is important to tell the story. An anchor has to communicate the essence of the news story told by a reporter. He or she has to summarize it up so that it goes down well to its basic recipient—the viewer. My Mantra for Success My mantra for success is my passion for news. My icon has been R. K. Laxman, a pioneer who reflected the plight of the common man so well through his apt cartoons. He began in the pretelevision era and continued steadfastly, sketching remarkable caricatures day by day. He said everyday is a new day. So take everyday as a new chapter and try to make your mark each day.

25 Train Yourself To Be a Competent Anchor Vinod Dua Media Person

Tips on Facing the Camera The camera is an extension of a viewer’s eye to me. I internalize the camera so much that it ceases to be an electronic gadget for me. I talk to my viewers through it, assuming that I am chatting with them. This camera also reflects an anchor’s acumen. Anchoring is a profession where you can’t hide anything. The level of knowledge and preparation can be easily gauged from an anchor’s performance on-air. How Can Aspiring Anchors Keep Themselves Updated? All aspiring anchors must read and inculcate the hunger for knowledge. Knowledge has no boundaries so train yourself to learn and internalize life’s varied experiences.You can learn a lot from your surroundings to enrich your general awareness. For example, train your ears on the best of music (like the Indian classical music, Carnatic music and so on), train your eyes on the best of paintings to understand their concept and depth, and train your mind by accessing the best reading subjects (like philosophy). Be a people’s person, as meeting people and talking to them helps one understand different shades of life in our society. This experience works as a logical nexus in understanding a variety of subjects and can be a big asset in an anchor’s presentation.

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How Can Anchors Be Comfortable While Conducting Interviews? Anchors work really hard on preparing for interviews. Don’t be overawed by the stature of the guests. Look into their eyes with confidence and command. This creates a level playing field and will not let you feel bogged down with the aura of the interviewee. Anchors should also be impartial in their approach and resist temptations from the ruling or influential class. As they understand the game of politics, they should resist being a part of this game. Anchor’s can analyse, interpret and explain the essence, importance and consequence of news but they should not take sides. This can be understood by the following example—Harsha Bhogle is an ace cricket commentator who commands excellent grasp and command over cricket analysis. His knowledge is the fuel that brings out the best in him. But if he starts playing the game himself, he may deliver differently. It is childish to think or assume that you know everything as an anchor. One is as good or bad as one’s last show. Keep giving your best shot each time.

26 What It Takes To Be a Business Anchor Ashutosh Sinha News Anchor, News Editor at NDTV Profit

What Does It Take To Be a Business Anchor? The biggest challenge for a business anchor is to understand the business he is talking about. So, if you are talking to the CEO of a shipping company, you have to understand what dry bulk shipping is or what dead weight tonne is. Economists and analysts have segmented the economy into nearly 30 sectors and a business anchor has to be very competent and comfortable in talking and understanding about five–seven of them. The others can be understood with help from colleagues, industry associates and some ‘friends’ that you make within the industry. If aspiring anchors think that they can go about becoming a business anchor without reading enough, it is not possible. Personally, I don’t find time to read about or even watch cricket, something that has been a passion all through my life. The reading is something that can never be overemphasized. Scanning through the four business dailies and other stories in the general newspapers is just the bare beginning. Reading magazines helps one get some perspective since magazine writing is very different from newspaper writing.

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How Has Your Business Anchoring Experience Been So Far? I have anchored business news on a Hindi general news channel, Hindi business channel and an English business channel. Each has their own way of presenting news and each has different segments that they are catering to. Each of them have different challenges too. For example, to get your message across to the audience for STAR News the language has to be really simple. It cannot have jargons and the basics of each nuance and each important development has to be explained. It is somewhat similar for the Hindi business channel too. But for an English business channel, since you are reaching out to an international audience, the quality of research and the level of understanding has to be far superior. This does not mean that the level of understanding has to be ‘inferior’ for the Hindi business channel. Sometimes putting a point across in very simple language may be a huge challenge. But the English audience is a more mature, more sophisticated audience which can accept some of the jargons that are used during anchoring. How Do You Think Business Anchoring in India Has Developed over the Last Decade? About a decade ago, most of the business stories focused on government action. Delhi was often the hub of what happened in business, because policy dictated the changes that were happening. It was also the time when the Indian economy was less open and the ‘babu’ often drove what moves companies made. Today, it is the demand and supply for products or services that drives business and not the diktats from the babus in one of the government ministries. This is true across multiple sectors. For example, in 1997 (the year when TRAI started functioning as India’s telecom regulator) there were about 20 million phones in India and the tariff was largely dictated by what BSNL’s

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tariff was. Today, India has over 600 million active mobile subscribers (there are people who have two phones, the second number may not be ‘active’ and in use). The tariff is dictated by demand for different kinds of services for telecom. BSNL has become a marginal player for telecom and does not dictate terms at the markets. In fact, for the last financial year, for the first time ever, it reported a loss. Imagine a company which earns nearly 35,000 crore annual revenues reporting a loss! Today, stocks of most companies which are listed on India’s stock markets react immediately to any policy change or changes that happen at the marketplace. Not only that, the stocks of Indian companies which are listed in the overseas markets have also reacted to global news while our markets are shut or we are asleep. Infosys was the first Indian company to be listed on Nasdaq in February 1999. The Indian markets need to react to those indicators too. So, Indian business has gone global and this means that Indian reporters have to be around the world. India’s heartland, which does not speak English, also needs business reporting. So the traditional trading centres in Rajasthan, Kolkata, Indore and others see reporting on Hindi business channels and there are several headlines coming out of these markets. Most importantly, the consumer has become the biggest newsmaker for the Hindi business news channels, which are more retail focused and tend to report on the issues that impact the end consumer. That is a segment of the market that is emerging and will only become stronger in the coming years. The 1.4 trillion dollar Indian economy is becoming increasing dependent on consumer spending, whether it is financial services, telecom services, or food services. All this matters for business channels and it is now being reported across Hindi business channels in a big way and also finding mention among the English channels.

27 The Joy of Sports Anchoring Sonali Chander Sports Editor, NDTV 24×7

Describe the Development of Sports Anchoring in the Indian Context over the Last Decade. Sports anchoring on news channels is still developing. Lots of people love sports, but the broadcasting on sports channels seems to indicate that pretty girls work best. However, this is an interesting dichotomy. Mandira Bedi in noodle straps is one of the most celebrated sports anchors of our generation, but Harsha Bhogle’s longevity proves that people still want substance over style. Who Is Fit To Be a Sports Anchor? Anybody who loves sports and is presentable on TV! That’s all I had, nothing else. I picked up the rest on the job. What Is the Best Part of Sports Anchoring? You can ask Sachin a question and make it the question that millions of other people would want to ask him. How Does One Excel in This Specialized Field? The same principles work here as in any other field—hard work and perseverance pay off.

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Which Is the Best Moment of Your Being On-Air? Imran Khan telling me that even if he became the President of Pakistan, he would still do cricket coverage for NDTV, provided I was asking the questions!

28 Television Reporting Versus Television Anchoring Veera Raghav News Anchor, Senior News Editor, CNN-IBN

One of the attractions for young aspirants to television journalism is the sight of being a face on television. Being a face is now defined mainly in the league of being a television anchor and then a prime-time anchor. A decade ago, being an anchor was not the immediate dream for an entrant. There were only a few anchors who were identifiable faces. But as television exploded and the audience was confronted with a crowd of faces which appeared onscreen, there were only a few who stood out. It’s important to ask what makes the few stand out?. In my view, it is those who were reporters and broke stories and then became anchors who rose above the rest who had focused on being in the studio with discussions or shows. I believe that credibility is built on the field and being in the studio increases the stature of that credibility. So the ideal television journalist is one who remains a reporter on the field and also shapes into an anchor in the studio or outside. That is the foundation with which a television journalist must plan or see his career growth. In order to master a particular area and be the finest reporter on that field and in anchor shows (both in the studio and from the field), is imperative to rise above the rest.

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Having said that, what is the difference between the two. When you are reporting a story as a reporter, you are far more aware of the details of the matter. You are answering questions on a story that you have personally and directly found information on.When you are an anchor, you are often confronted with second-hand information (information which has been passed on to you, which you have not corroborated on your own). So the fundamental quality that you need to develop is to trust the information given to you and feel confident about what you are saying. I would just like to point out that trusting second-hand information, even if it is from your editor, is not a great quality for a reporter. So there is a bit of unlearning and readjusting that is required when you want to be both an anchor and a reporter. Over a period of time, your skills go into auto pilot mode—your anchor instincts will switch on when you are an anchor and the reporter instincts when you are a reporter. The other difference is that as a reporter you are, in a sense, focused on a particular subject or story. You are often not confronted with three varied stories breaking in three different parts of the country. Since you are focused on one particular story, the level of knowledge and confidence about that story is higher. On the other hand, as an anchor you are confronted with stories which you are not completely aware of most of the time. No matter how well read you are or how knowledgeable you are, there will be cases on a daily basis when you will be gaining awareness on-air. The idea of exploring the story as you report it is an anchor’s necessity and the idea of reporting the story after exploring it is a reporter’s quality. In a news environment, there are often contradictions between what a television anchor has to do and what a reporter ought to do. But striking a balance is essential. Being in the studio vis-à-vis being on the field are, at the end of the day, different

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experiences on the same principles. The idea is to take the news to the viewer in the most accurate and presentable way. It is part of television to learn both. Till you know how both are done, you cannot be a good television journalist. Some of us may be better reporters than anchors and vice versa, but I believe if you are prepared for a show as a reporter, then you will be a better anchor! The fundamental of a reporter is to ask questions to understand the story and the fundamental of an anchor in a breaking news environment is to ask questions to understand the story. Of course there are several specializations in anchoring as well. There are those who anchor regular news bulletins, those who anchor special debates, those who anchor special shows from the field, those who anchor half hour documentaries. These are all the different formats of television and to be comfortable in all the formats is impossible. The fundamental is to know and understand all the varying formats and master them. But the biggest change in a reporter after he becomes an anchor is the fact that people watch you more closely. They expect you to speak on all issues as confidently as you spoke on some as a reporter. Now that is something that very few, if any at all, can achieve. But as an anchor you need to realize that you are not a reporter and when you return to being a reporter you need to understand that you are not an anchor. There is a constant sense of balance that needs to be achieved in being both. Not everyone can be good at both, but I firmly believe that everyone must try both to understand the process of delivering news as a whole.

29 Updating Your Anchoring Skills Ajit Anjum Managing Editor, News 24

A majority of newcomers in television want to shine as stars by doing reporting or news anchoring. They are attracted by the likes of industry stalwarts like Rajdeep Sardesai, Barkha Dutt, Ashutosh or Arnab Goswami. But they overlook the degree of hard work that these people have put in to reach this level. They are not just faces but journalists who have acquired these skills over a period, through rigorous preparation and unflinching commitment towards their work. All newcomers must understand that they need to be patient and ready to endure hard work in this field. Stardom doesn’t happen overnight. Students must develop a reading habit which is a necessity for good journalism. Reading books, newspapers, current affairs magazines and contemporary writings will give them a big overview related to the national and international events. This will help them gain writing and analyzing capability that will ultimately prove very useful in doing their work better in television. Prepare yourself well and continue this process even after entering television. Watching television debates will also help in understanding the current affairs issues better. Students or television beginners must avoid selective or non-serious reading. At the same time, avoiding difficult subjects or focusing on light or entertainment related subjects only will limit your knowledge and prove to be a handicap in the long run.

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A major tragedy of television is that a news story is visual based. Real content is sometimes missing as television doesn’t go into details. A news package is written, revolving around some visual reactions in the form of bytes and a few lines of information. That is one reason why viewers are not totally dependent on television for quality content. They trust the print media for education and in depth study or analysis of various subjects. Ultimately, the visual strength of television and its time constraint becomes its weakness as many television professionals do not indulge in reading regularly. It is good to aim for multitasking in television than just being a news anchor. A news anchor who is also a producer or reporter can understand, write and speak on a subject well. This is of great help in handling big news events.

30 The Daily Weather Update Namrata Sharma Weather Anchor, NDTV

Everywhere you go, always take the weather with you … This classic number literally adds a zing to my stint as a weather anchor with NDTV! I never knew that giving weather reports could be so entertaining, so much fun and so informative. It all began in December 2007, when weather news was anchored from the rooftop of the NDTV office every hour on all channels of NDTV. The winter of 2007 in Delhi was harsh, bitter and record breaking! As a weather anchor, my work started as early as 6 a.m. I would be giving regular weather updates from the seventh floor rooftop in biting cold! Whatever be the weather, a weather anchor never forgets to smile and look pleasant on-air. I worked hard to interpret IMD data and give accurate information to the viewers, even if that meant reading up basic geography books. From then on, weather reporting was not just a job, it was a passion! One of the biggest challenges that I have faced was in January 2008, just a month after I had joined NDTV. A BBC weather forecast report on Delhi that year stated that the minimum temperature in Delhi would touch zero degrees. The IMD dismissed this report but various news channels played it big. Needless to say, the pressure was immense to contradict the BBC weather report. On 4 January 2008, I contacted the IMD officials

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at 6 a.m. and got the information that the minimum temperature in Delhi was not zero degrees, as estimated. Rather, it was 4.1 degrees! A challenge won, but the journey had just begun. As global warming, deforestation, climatic changes and other issues continually draw our attention to the ever changing environment, the role of a weather anchor has become indispensable in recent times.Weather related news not only increases awareness about climatic change but also highlights increasing pollution levels and a need to stop the destruction of our natural habitat. A weather anchor now has more responsibilities than ever before. Be it severe heat, thunderstorm, heavy rainfall or a cold wave, I have had fun being a weather anchor and perhaps have learnt to weather a storm, quite literally!

Important Terms Anchor link Two-anchor show

Ad-libbing

Phonos OB

PCR

Rundown Stand up

That part of the news that is read or delivered by an anchor. A format where two anchors sit together on the same set and alternately deliver anchor links. Speaking extempore without any preparation at the spur of the moment. This is required to fill in with describing the news and its importance is when the shots are played for an extended time during breaking news. Questioning of a reporter by an anchor. This happens over the phone. This stands for Outside Broadcast. OB vans are sent to the location of activity for getting live coverage. OB with reporters means putting questions to reporters who are available in person at the location of news. This stands for Production Control Room. It is the hub of the news broadcast. All technical functions of a bulletin are managed from here. It is headed by the director who gives command to anchors regarding the rundown. It is a table of all news items set to go on-air. It is basically the menu card of a news platter. This is a recorded piece of interview done by on-field reporters or anchors. It can be done inside the newsroom or at an outside location as well.

Handling breaking news

Speaking extempore with reporters (Photographs Courtesy NDTV India)

A studio discussion

Anchoring from an outdoor location (Photographs Courtesy NDTV India)

Business anchoring

Entertainment anchoring (Photographs Courtesy NDTV India)

Weather anchoring

Anchoring from the newsroom (Photographs Courtesy NDTV India)

The news editing process

Maintaining the news schedule (Photographs Courtesy Pearson Corporate Photo Bank)

Managing the news camera

Reading a teleprompter easily (Photographs Courtesy Pearson Corporate Photo Bank)

Managing camera work and live feed

Playing of the news graphics (Photographs Courtesy NDTV India)

Conducting an interview

Being part of a two-anchor show (Photographs Courtesy Pearson Corporate Photo Bank)