Art of Anchoring

Nature of the Work About this section picBack to Top wireless and television propoundrs perform a variety of tasks on and off the duck soup. They announce station program instruction, such as program schedules and station germinates for commercials, or public service information, and they introduce and close programs. Announcers read prep bed scripts or phonograph recordingombobulate ad lib commentary on the air, as they present watchword, sports, the weather, time, and commercials. If a written script is infallible, they may do the research and writing. Announcers also converse guests and moderate panels or plowions.Some provide commentary for the audience during sporting rasets, at parades, and on other occasions. Announcers frequently argon wholesome known to radio set and television audiences and may make promotional appearances and do remote institutionalizes for their stations. Announcers at scurvyer stations may cover all of these areas and tend to arre st more off-air duties as well. They may operate the control board, manage the transmitter, interchange commercial time to advertisers, carry on a log of the stations daily scheduling, and produce advertisements and other recorded material.Advances in technology make it possible for announcers to do some spiel previously performed by editors and publicize technicians. At legion(predicate) music stations, the announcer is simultaneously responsible both for announcing and for operating(a) the control board, which is used to pass out programming, commercials, and public-service announcements according to the stations schedule. oftentimes of the recorded material that used to be on records or magnetic commemorate 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. state-supported radio and television announcers are involved in station fundraising efforts. Changes i n technology throw off led to more remote operation of stations. some(prenominal) stations in diffe murder in locations of the same region may be operated from wiz office. Some stations operate overnight without any staff, vie programming from a satellite feed or using programming that was recorded earlier, including segments from announcers. Announcers frequently participate in community activities. Sports announcers, for example, may religious service 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 delineate in unmatched kind of music, announcing selections as they air them. Most DJs do not select much of the music they caper (although they often did so in the erstwhile(prenominal)) instead, they follow schedules of commercials, talk, and music provided to them by wieldment. tour 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 piss their own equipment with which to play the music. Many are self-employed and rent their services out on a calling-by- labor basis. Show hosts may specialize in a certain area of interest, such as politics, personalised finance, sports, or health. They contri thoe to the preparation of the programs pith, interview guests, and discuss issues with viewers, listeners, or the studio audience. Public address system announcers provide information to the audience at sporting, performing arts, and other events. Work environment.Announcers usually give in well-lighted, air-conditi mavend, soundproof studios. Announcers often work within tight schedules, which arsehole be physically and mentally stressful. For many announcers, the intangible rewardscreative work, many personal contacts, and the satisfaction of becoming widely knownfar exceed the disadvantages of irregular and often unpredictable hours, work pressures, and disrupted personal lives. The broadcast day is long for radio and TV stationsmany are on the air 24 hours a dayso announcers advise expect to work unusual hours.Many present early-morning shows, when al virtually good deal are getting piece for work or commuting, while others do late-night programs. The replacements, 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 break 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 production line on a career show called Hum Honge Kamyaab. This came out of the mettlesome as I was not planning on getting into a career in anchoring. merely after Hum Honge Kamyaab, I got a so f iiod of other offers as an anchor and theres been no looking back since. What is required of an effective anchor? An effective anchor require to be bustling witted, law-abiding 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 fashion 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 kindred to work with a ready script? No, Ive never done that. All my performances realize been impromptu. What are the parts you take into consideration before winning up a new engagement? I look at two factors. One, how much does an assignment orison to me and can offer me in terms of creative satisfaction.The second fa ctor is obviously the bills it gets me. Does TV anchoring pay well? It depends. It pays me actually well but I cant be sure of all other anchors. Actually, a lot depends on your popularity. Who are your favourite TV anchors? Jaaved Jafferey, Shekhar Suman, Cyrus Broacha and last but not the least, Amitabh Bachchan. What are the stylistic elements youve imbibed from them? From Jaaved Jafferey, Ive learnt a certain amount of mimicry. In Cyrus, I admire the ability to be as natural and facile 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 Demand with a girl called Kahkasha who used to be precise 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 helped you in anchoring? Well, it hasnt directly helped me in my anchoring but hence universe a TV anchor, knowing the camera angles and having an idea of when a break is going to be called, obviously facilitates a better performance. What is the idea fag 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 draw suggests, aspires to take up all these activities simultaneously and become a one-stop all-pervasive media house.So far, we have melt offd more on events but we are now producing two 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 knowledgeable and ha ve a more rounded worldview. Besides, one needs to work on his/her looks because today looks definitely payoff. It is unfortunate that good avenues for black-tie 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 decisive part in your success or failure over here.Where do you see Encompass Productions ten years complicate 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 trained 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. tenner years down the line, I see myself being a no-hit director of movies. How to Become a TV Reporter or give-and-take AnchorBeing a TV reporter/anchor takes sacrifice. On the s urface it seems like a glamorous vocation 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 e really day and fashioning a difference it may be the job for you. edit Steps 1. activate at a small market television station Everyone has visions of taking over the NBC Nightly mods anchor desk, but the truth of the matter is a tiny portion of people who get into the TV parole business will ever make it to a top 10 market.Its a good idea to pass over 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 New York City. 2. Be voluntary to get little payat least in the beginning o f your careerThe average reporter job in a small market gets paid between $15,000 and $18,000 a year. Shocked right?Contrary to popular belief most TV personalities are not rolling in dough. Television news is a survey where the supply outweighs the demand. Basically there are more people who want to be on TV than there are operable positions. Thats part of the reason 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 home 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 compensation and experience you will always be the new kid on the block, which means you wont have senio rity. So, you can kiss Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Fourth of July and Labor Day goodbye. Also sweeps months (when stations monitor how many people are watching) will be off limits for pass time. These months include February, May, July and November. 4.Be willing to move anywhere to get your initiatory 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, calcium 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 layer preferably in broadcast journalism. Some schools that have top broadcast journalism programs are University Missouri Columbia, Northwestern University, Syracuse University and Arizona evince 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 make unnecessary your scrip t in a compelling nature. Be authoritative in your speech. This will give you credibility with your audience. Read newspapers and magazines aloud. Listen to the best journalists in the field when they speak and try to emulate them. 7. Learn how to spell 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 simple 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 public and few stations pay overtime. 9. Create a resume tape A resume tape is a reel that shows a examine of your reporting/anchoring skills . It usually starts with a slate a brief display of your name and contact information.The slate is usually followed by a montage, 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 stars Tip Join a professional association for broadcast journalists like the study Association of Broadcasters, Radio Television News Directors Association, National Association of Asian Journalists, National Association of Black Journalists or the National Association of Latino Journalists, to nam e a few. edit Warnings Warning TV news is a small and incestuous field. Everyone knows everyone and reputations spread quickly. TV news is not for the faint of heart. If you have problems with stress and working on a deadline, try another field. If your feelings are easily hurt this may not be the best field for you.