ANCHORPERSON:Appearance and Confidence, Job Opportunities

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Introduction to Broadcasting MCM 411

LESSON 41

ANCHORPERSON

With the introduction of broadcasting came a unique job of anchorperson. There is no way out

to carry out a program without a person especially in the programs of current affairs.

Be it an interview or conducting a talk show, a seminar or commentary there has to be a

person to conduct the program.

Male or Female

Although the gender debate is not raging any more in the area of broadcasting, producers,

however, have been confronting with the question of handing over the anchorperson job to a

male or female. The choice of a female is obvious in programs meant for women but the fair

sex is also considered for children's programs and programs produced on subjects like health

and education.

But still economic, political, globalization and governance are the subjects which remain

predominantly males' domain as far regulating broadcasting programs are concerned.

There are certain programs which encourage anchorpersons over and above gender

consideration like news reading or news documentaries.

There are exceptions as some female are proving as good as male in appearing as an

anchorperson in programs made on political or financial issues. Some females are now

showing interest in making running commentaries especially for the sporting events in which

women appear. A marked change seems taking place though gradually.

Appearance and Confidence

(Voice and speech)

Having done on the subject of engaging a male or female for conducting a program, a

program producer looks forward to a person who is acceptable in his/ her looks through the

lens.

It is here that first part of the audition is taken. There is hardly an anchorperson, even the

most fluent and charming persons in this field, who join this area without passing through the

process of audition. It is not necessary that a person should be very good looking and

attractive. This is usually considered additional qualification of the compere. What matters

along with the looks is the confidence of the person who wants to take up the job of

anchorperson.

No one is suddenly called to appear before the microphone or camera and prove its mettle as

the talent. People are usually short-listed by the producers and then given a particular script

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which is usually easy to learn and render. Good producers also help potential talents in

injecting confidence in the later. Audition is not conducted once; talents are given chances to

muster up their confidence to go through the testing period.

Job Opportunities

Needless is to overemphasize here that with the world of broadcasting has also come a

separate and complete job as anchorperson, announcer, news reader etc. It all depends on a

person how he/ she takes up the job.

Qualities in an anchorperson

Like every job there are certain qualities which a broadcasting house makes sure are

possessed by the people who are willing to make a career in the job of modulator.

Here below we will examine some of essential characteristics of an anchorperson;

Properly Educated

No broadcasting house is going to compromise on this property for an anchorperson. To be

educated and properly educated is well defined in the eyes of a producer one may be

generally educated; a graduate or post-graduate. But for a producer a properly educated

person means the one who should understand the exact requirement of the program under

question and for which an anchorperson is being found. For instance, a person is masters in

English language; the program belongs to financial sector to discuss budgets, import-export

policies, globalization of economy or free trade among nations etc. A producer will have to

make sure that the compere of the program knows about the subject.

Laced with modern knowledge

A good producer is always on the hunt to mark a person who is not only educated in the

subject of his program, he very strongly wish to get a person who possess latest knowledge

on the subject not only in the sense of terminologies but in the sense of latest developments

going on in that field. For instance if the program is to discuss the free market economy and

the global trends, the knowing of the process of globalization by the anchorperson would not

suffice, he/she must be in the know of the latest developments conferences,

recommendations by the world economic forums and some regional agreements and the

criticism on those developments by the stakeholders would enable the anchorperson to talk to

the participants of the program with confidence and help the viewers interested in the program

to update their knowledge on the topic.

Similarly, if the program is on music, a mere knowledge of music would not work, the compere

needs to know the latest albums, singers, tracks, instruments, re-mixes and the

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experimentation going on in certain areas of the music field to justify a talk on the subject of ,

for example, modern music and emerging trends.

Technical comprehension

An anchorperson is not a separate entity but very much a part of the production team. From

this angle he/ she must understand the technical matters pertaining to production. For

instance if he/ she feels that some vital mistake has been done in the opening remarks while

recording the program, and instead of staying nervous all through the program, the person

should understand that the mistake would be removed in the post-production process and

viewers, or listeners would not get it, would help greatly in conducting the rest of the program.

Similarly the knowledge of camera positions, lights and microphones by the anchorperson

would always help the producer to complete the recordings without inordinate breaks.

Ethics and Legalities

A sound and sensible anchorperson will always take care of the legalities involved in the

matter under discussion and the ethics in the exchange of views. The person should not

humiliate a participant of the program in any manner and at the same time ensure that no

other participant indulge in a negative attitude at the same time. A program conducted in a

sophisticated manner is always valued higher than the programs ignoring this very sensitive

aspect of production.

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