Art of Anchoring

Nature of the Work About this section picBack to Top Radio and television announcers per progress to a variety of tasks on and off the air. They announce station program information, such as program schedules and station breaks for commercials, or public service information, and they introduce and close programs. Announcers read prepared scripts or stag ad lib colorary on the air, as they present newsworthiness, sports, the weather, meter, and commercials. If a written script is beseechd, they whitethorn do the research and writing. Announcers also interview guests and moderate panels or discussions.Some provide commentary for the hearing during sporting events, at parades, and on other occasions. Announcers often are well(p) known to radio and television audiences and may assume promotional appearances and do distant broadcasts for their displace. Announcers at smaller station may cover all of these knowledge domains and tend to have more off-air duties as well. They ma y operate the control board, monitor the transmitter, deal commercial time to advertisers, keep a log of the stations daily programming, and produce advertisements and other recorded material.Advances in technology make it doable for announcers to do some naturalise previously performed by editors and broadcast technicians. At many music stations, the announcer is simultaneously responsible both for announcing and for operating the control board, which is utilise to broadcast programming, commercials, and public-service announcements according to the stations schedule. Much of the recorded material that used to be on records or tape is now in the form of digital files on computers. (See the statement on broadcast and sound engineering technicians and radio operators elsewhere in the Handbook. Public radio and television announcers are mixed in station fundraising efforts. Changes in technology have led to more remote operation of stations. Several stations in diverse locations of the same neck of the woods may be operated from one office. Some stations operate overnight without any staff, twisting programming from a satellite feed or apply programming that was recorded earlier, including segments from announcers. Announcers frequently participate in community activities. Sports announcers, for example, may serve as masters of ceremonies at sports club banquets or may address customers at openings of sporting goods stores.Radio announcers who broadcast music often are called disc jockeys (DJs). Some DJs specialize in one kind of music, announcing selections as they air them. most DJs do non select much of the music they play (although they often did so in the past) instead, they follow schedules of commercials, talk, and music provided to them by management. While on the air, DJs comment on the music, weather, and traffic. They may take requests from listeners, interview guests, and manage listener contests. Some DJs announce and play music at clubs, dances, restaurants, and weddings.They often have their own equipment with which to play the music. Many are self-employed and rent their services out on a job-by-job basis. Show hosts may specialize in a certain area of interest, such as politics, personal finance, sports, or health. They contribute to the preparation of the programs content, interview guests, and discuss issues with viewers, listeners, or the studio audience. Public address administration announcers provide information to the audience at sporting, performing arts, and other events. Work environment.Announcers usually work in well-lighted, air-conditioned, soundproof studios. Announcers often work within mischievous schedules, which bay window be physically and mentally stressful. For many announcers, the intangible rewardscreative work, many personal contacts, and the satisfaction of becoming widely knownfar outstrip the disadvantages of irregular and often unpredictable hours, work pressures, and disrupted pe rsonal lives. The broadcast day is long for radio and TV stationsmany are on the air 24 hours a dayso announcers laughingstock expect to work unusual hours.Many present early-morning shows, when most people are getting fixate for work or commuting, while others do young-night programs. The shifts, however, may not be as varied as in the past because new technology is allowing stations to eliminate some of the overnight hours. How did you start off as an anchor? Ive been performing in stage shows in school since I was four. Later, while I was doing my Mass Communications from Jamia Milia Islamia, Usha Albuquerque offered me the anchors job on a career show called Hum Honge Kamyaab. This came out of the blue as I was not planning on getting into a career in anchoring.But after Hum Honge Kamyaab, I got a lot of other offers as an anchor and theres been no looking keep going since. What is required of an efficient anchor? An effective anchor needs to be quick witted, observant and adaptable to unforeseen situations. Which are the areas one needs to work on constantly to improve as an anchor? One needs to be abreast of whats happening around, to be in sync with the latest expressive style accessories and the prevailing dressing trends. Besides, one should work on his/her wit. Basically, one needs to imbibe and absorb a lot more than what one normally does. pic An effective anchor needs to be quick witted, observant and adaptable to unforeseen situations Do you like to work with a ready script? No, Ive never through with(p) that. All my performances have been impromptu. What are the factors you take into consideration before taking up a new assignment? I look at dickens factors. One, how much does an assignment appeal to me and can offer me in terms of creative satisfaction.The second factor is obviously the money it gets me. Does TV anchoring pay well? It depends. It pays me very well but I cant be sure of all other anchors. Actually, a lot depends on yo ur popularity. Who are your favourite TV anchors? Jaaved Jafferey, Shekhar Suman, Cyrus Broacha and uttermost(a) but not the least, Amitabh Bachchan. What are the stylistic elements youve imbibed from them? From Jaaved Jafferey, Ive assumet a certain amount of mimicry. In Cyrus, I admire the ability to be as natural and free-and-easy as one can be. I admire Shekhar Suman for the way he has maintained himself.One cant say whether he is in his early forties or the late twenties. I admire Amitabh Bachchan for the modesty, dignity and grace with which he carries himself. Who are your favourite co-anchors? Have you ever co-anchored without a script? I have enjoyed anchoring Public conduct with a girl called Kahkasha who used to be very sparkling. Ritu, who later went on to become Mahima Chaudhary, is one of my other favourite co-anchors. Yes, I have co-anchored without a script. Thats not a problem. Once you know the content and once you relate well with your co-anchor, thats no big deal.How has the Mass Communications course serveed you in anchoring? Well, it hasnt directly helped me in my anchoring but past being a TV anchor, knowing the camera angles and having an idea of when a break is going to be called, obviously facilitates a fall apart performance. What is the idea behind the creation of Encompass Production? I have found most media houses to be specialists in either events, production or else the creatives. Encompass, as the name suggests, aspires to take up all these activities simultaneously and become a one-stop all-pervasive media house.So far, we have concentrated more on events but we are now producing 2 TV serials and a movie, which I get out be directing. What training do you recommend for aspiring TV anchors? Well, primarily, I feel they should be well-read, more wise to(p) and have a more rounded worldview. Besides, one needs to work on his/her looks because today looks definitely matter. It is unfortunate that good avenues for formal training in TV anchoring do not exist in our country. Im trying to do my bit on this front through a series of workshops. Besides, nobody can deny that luck plays a crucial part in your success or failure over here.Where do you see Encompass Productions ten historic period down the line? Having evolved as one of the biggest media conglomerates in the country. Where do you see yourself ten years down the line? Personally, Im getting into film direction because that is what Im prepare in. Fortunately or unfortunately, the easy money that TV anchoring gave me tied me to it for far too long. But now, Im fully charged to give film direction a shot. Ten years down the line, I see myself being a successful director of movies. How to Become a TV Reporter or intelligence operation AnchorBeing a TV reporter/anchor takes sacrifice. On the surface it seems like a glamorous job but those of us who have worked in the industry know it is just the opposite. There is, however, no other job like it in the world. If you like deadline pressure, doing something new every day and qualification a variation it may be the job for you. edit Steps 1. Start at a small market television station Everyone has visions of taking over the NBC Nightly intelligence operation anchor desk, but the truth of the matter is a tiny portion of people who get into the TV news business will ever make it to a top 10 market.Its a good idea to start your career in a small market because you can learn all aspects of the business. You will likely do everything like report, produce, anchor, shoot video, edit and maybe even run the teleprompter with your foot Youll also get the opportunity to make your mistakes. Audiences are much more forgiving in Mobile, Alabama than they are in upstart York City. 2. Be uncoerced to get little payat least in the beginning of your careerThe average reporter job in a small market gets paid between $15,000 and $18,000 a year. surprise right?Contrary to popular belief mo st TV personalities are not rolling in dough. Television news is a field where the give outweighs the demand. Basically there are more people who want to be on TV than there are available positions. Thats part of the cogitate why pay is not competitive. Also, if you start at a small market station, you will get small market pay. Its the nature of the business. If making a lot of money in your career is important to you dont get into TV news 3. Forget about holidays at legal residence The truth is you will hardly ever get holidays off.You will most likely be working. Established main anchors at TV stations will most likely get holidays off which means you will be stuck at work. If you constantly move markets every couple of years to increase your profits and experience you will always be the new kid on the block, which means you wont have seniority. So, you can kiss Thanksgiving, Christmas, New stratums, Fourth of July and Labor Day goodbye. Also sweeps months (when stations mon itor how many people are watching) will be off limits for vacation time. These months include February, May, July and November. 4.Be willing to move anywhere to get your first job Jobs are so competitive that you cant be choosy when landing your first job. Sure, you may want to hold out for San Diego, California but if Biloxi, Mississippi offers you your first job you should probably say yes. 5. Go to college Most TV stations require that you have a college degree preferably in broadcast journalism. Some schools that have top broadcast journalism programs are University Missouri Columbia, Northwestern University, siege of Syracuse University and Arizona State University. 6. Learn how to speak well Your voice is key in this field.You should concentrate now on projection, enunciation and inflexion. All of these things will help you deliver your script in a compelling nature. Be authoritative in your speech. This will give you credibility with your audience. Read newspapers and magazin es aloud. Listen to the best journalists in the field when they speak and try to emulate them. 7. Learn how to write for TV You of course learn some of this in school. Writing for TV is very different from writing a term paper. You need to learn how to write to the images your audience will see on TV. Its called writing to video.Also, you should keep writing ingenuous and stay away from legalese and cliches. You have only one shot to get the attention of folks at home. 8. Be willing to work all the time You may be placed on the morning shift, the evening shift, a split shift and the weekend shift at any given moment. New reporters especially have very little say in the hours they work. Working overtime is very common and few stations pay overtime. 9. Create a resume tape A resume tape is a reel that shows a sample of your reporting/anchoring readinesss. It usually starts with a slate a shortened showing of your name and contact information.The slate is usually followed by a mont age, which is a short segment of compelling live shots, samples of reporting and anchoring. The montage is then followed by three of your best stories. The best way to get your first resume tape is to do one in school otherwise it can be quite expensive. When your tape is done you send it on VHS format along with a cover letter and resume to news directors at the stations you are interested in. Then, you wait and cross your fingers. 10. Be Persistent Dont stop until you get that first job Persistence is an invaluable skill any reporter/anchor should have. edit Tips Tip Join a professional association for broadcast journalists like the National Association of Broadcasters, Radio Television give-and-take Directors Association, National Association of Asian Journalists, National Association of Black Journalists or the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, to name a few. edit Warnings Warning TV news is a small and incestuous field. Everyone knows everyone and reputations spre ad quickly. TV news is not for the faint of heart. If you have problems with stress and working on a deadline, try other field. If your feelings are easily hurt this may not be the best field for you.