Newsreader

A career in news reading or anchoring suits people with bold personalities. There are several skills required for this career. Firstly, there is no room for any stage fright or camera fright. A newsreader needs to be presentable in front of the camera at all times. Not only does a newsreader read the news, he must also aim at grasping the viewers’ attention so that they stick to that particular channel.

A newsreader must also be quick in thinking and executing. He needs to be alert at all times and must have good decision making skills. Mostly, a newsreader reads off the news from the teleprompter or from prepared notes. But at times when such facilities are not available, for instance in the case of breaking news, he may be required to present the news to the viewers after listening to the producer who briefs him on the matter. Innovation and creativity are also part of the bargain in this profession. Therefore, newsreaders must be concise & clear in their actions.

A strong command of the language & good public speaking are essential. They should excel in both verbal and written skills and have an excellent fund of general knowledge on matters such as current situations, including political issues. They must have a passion for journalism and must be daring enough to travel to different locations to collect news.

If you feel you have the above mentioned qualities and are ready to embrace the challenges that lie in this career, you should most definitely opt for it.

Newsreaders gather information & present it to the viewers to keep them informed about the daily happenings around the world. Be it local, national, international events, current situations, or reporting the actions of the higher authorities, newsreaders assimilate & interpret such news from various sources and present it to the people watching. News anchors may also present live transmission videos from reporters that are present on the scene.

Newsreaders or presenters usually work for news on television channels but can also work for the radio or internet. Newscasters on the other hand usually specialize in a particular type of news such as sports or weather. Additionally, newsreaders must not only be able to read, but also write. They should be able to write and prepare news stories from their own research and be familiar with the nitty-gritty of situations in order to deliver the news with confidence. Newsreaders may also be asked to add commentary to their readings and sometimes act as reporters or journalists.

The job may also require on-air interviewing, conducting panel discussions, debates & other talk shows. Being knowledgeable and well-read is key to being successful in this career.

To become a newsreader, one must have a degree in Journalism & Mass Communication. There are several institutes in India and abroad that offer such degrees. Courses in news reading are not mandatory, but may provide an edge to the aspirants.

Apart from this, field experience is equally important in this profession. Before applying for jobs, one may apply for internships with broadcasting networks to get a feel of the environment and setting. One can also try out for cadetships or traineeships that are offered by several organizations.

That being said, almost anyone with a drive to pursue news reading can appear for an audition. If the producer sees true potential, specific qualifications can be disregarded.

This profession pays well and at an average, a newsreader can expect up to $50,000 as a beginner and later up to $87,000 a year. A newsreader who has mastered in telecommunications can have an annual income of up to $114,000.

In India, an established news anchor can expect a monthly salary ranging from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 2,400,000.

The life of newsreaders and anchors is usually hectic. Bulletins are sometimes broadcasted with no time for preparation. When deadlines are to be met, newsreaders are under a great deal of pressure. Working hours may vary according to the job and while some anchors work day shifts, others are required to work night shifts because news channels are usually on air 24 hours a day.

Therefore, they have to be prepared to work for extended and irregular periods during the week, including weekends and public holidays. Some newsreaders work in large studios where there is a constant hustle bustle of people. Others may work in comfortable private offices. Because of the nature of their job, newsreaders will have to interact with numerous people and communities. They might have to cover controversial topics such as political uprisings, wars, natural disasters.

Their job may also demand some traveling. The amount of work that a news presenter has to do greatly depends on the location of work. A

newsreader

might also have to act like a reporter in the time of need, for instance in case of a local broadcasting station. Newsreaders may also have to undergo voice training so that they learn to speak in a clear tone with minimal accent to be understood by the masses.

Newsreaders also need personal grooming to ensure being presentable in front of the camera. This job becomes simpler when there is team of scriptwriters working behind. The newsreader's job involves good communication and understanding with the entire crew, especially the producer.

Some perks of being a newsreader include firstly, being aired on television and being recognized by the masses. Daily interaction with interesting personalities and the ability to relay their stories and being present in historically significant events are some other advantages.

A newsreader can benefit immensely by providing information to the world and making people learn new things. Taking on such challenges might prove to be fun and exhilarating. If a newsreader proves his worth, he may be offered his own separate show to run.

Although being well-known may sound glamorous, at times the fame might be a disadvantage. The press & media may make personal life miserable. We are all aware of the adversity that journalists encounter all over the globe. Newsreaders may strike animosity from opposing parties, and there have been documented cases of newsreaders being kidnapped & tortured.

Therefore, the job may be dangerous on some occasions. This career needs ample patience and determination. Long working hours and lack of holidays may have an effect on personal and social life. Another downside in this career is the instability or insecurity of the job. Usually a newsreader is hired on a contract that can be easily broken at any time. Therefore, a newsreader must always have a backup plan in hand.

A career in news reading is very appealing & promising. Nowadays, newsreaders are great in demand because there are an abundance of news channels. Quite a few institutes in India and abroad offer news reading courses and such a career may prove to be extremely rewarding. Normally, newsreaders start off their career by being news reporters.

The numbers of job openings are determined by the ups and downs of the economical status of the industry because they depend on revenue generated by advertising. Statistics suggests that in 2004, news anchors, analysts, reporters, and correspondents held about 64,000 jobs, 25% of which worked in radio and television broadcasting.

Urban cities of most countries offer many employment opportunities. Examples are USA (San Francisco, Washington D.C., New York), UK (London, Wales), New Zealand (Auckland), Australia (Sydney, Melbourne), Canada (Toronto), India (Mumbai, New Delhi), and South Africa (Johannesburg, Cape Town).