«
»

So You Want to Anchor

Several multimedia journalists have asked what they need to do to progress to the position of anchor.  Many factors are at play, of course, but it is do-able. 

 

For example, anchors like Larry Hatteberg (KAKE/Wichita, KS) began as video journalists, earning their stripes and credibility.  Viewers tell us that in addition to liking the anchor’s personality, knowledge of the area and journalistic skills are major reasons for watching one anchor over another.

 

One valuable way to get a handle on anchor growth is to think of success coming through five stages.  As you see below, it starts with the most basic ability to read aloud well.  That won’t get you much anymore as stations trim budgets. 

 

But if you’re a multimedia journalist, you have a head’s start for the second stage as a true “journalist,” not just a news reader. 

 

The fourth stage is about getting results, making a difference through the station’s brand of journalism.  Most anchors never get there.  They often fall short because just doing a report during sweeps usually isn’t enough to impact on viewers.  It takes stories that are relevant to the vast majority of viewers done with memorable moments reflecting the station’s brand of journalism.

  

The fifth stage is an exclusive club.  Anchors who rise to that level make an emotional connection with viewers.  They’re “like family” as one viewer put it. 

 

 

anchor-growth-092

 

Unfortunately, some don’t even have a clear understanding of their station’s brand, meaning what makes them uniquely valuable in the minds of viewers.  That’s an opportunity for you to set yourself apart.  If your station’s brand is merely just a tag line to you, find out what it really means.  It won’t guarantee you an anchor position, but it’s a giant step forward no matter how you contribute to your success and your station’s.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 at 2:21 pm and is filed under Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Leave a Reply