To be a newsreader

The green-screened studio, complete with bright lights, cameras and a gallery room of controls was, last week, where I experienced my first taste of TV reporting. An interesting and amusing way to spend a Tuesday afternoon. I had never before really thought about how news presenters actually alter their behaviour, mannerisms and expressions for the camera - but of course they do!

It is uncommon, i would hope, to be in the middle of a conversation with somebody and have them stare you directly in the eyes, quite emotionless, whilst trying desperately not to fiddle.

Perhaps a person in the company of someone for whom they hold the utmost respect (or who they fear greatly) would behave like this but mid-natter? - it seems doubtful. When people are amidst an interesting conversation with each other, they may subconsciously mimic each other’s body language e.g hand gestures, direction of their head & eyes, position of arms and legs etc. This is probably more commonly known to occur when people are attracted to each other.

With only 7% of communication verbal and 38% tonal, a massive 55% is left to the art of body language.

When watching newsreaders I have barely caught a glimpse of

any naturalistic displays of body language. By naturalistic, I mean the sort you may observe amongst groups of communicating people. The readers generally appear relaxed but alert, a good comfort I should think to

watchers. They are in control, do not fiddle with their hair or face and seem to subtly indicate emotion fitting each particular story. They must not distract nor bore the viewer and I think a balance of a non invasive presence and warm manner must help make them successful.

I think newsreaders have to be careful, concise and concentrating (CCC) in order to give off the air of professionalism required. A newsreader has the job of appearing conversational with the audience whilst in reality having a very one sided conversation, seemingly with a screen. I hadn’t realised how difficult this actually is until I was ’thrown in at the deep end’ finding myself reading the auto cue, trying to control said auto cue and avoid looking like an idiot. I was also desperately trying to keep the words flowing clearly and intelligently whilst stopping myself from getting distracted by the 'prancing around’ producer.

The broadcaster’s ‘triangle' was mentioned to us all before shooting but I fear was not fully absorbed first time round. . . Newsreaders look at the screen (camera), look down at their notes and look at their co reader. A tendency to slightly face their co reader is evident in some broadcasters, particularly when they are of the opposite sex. It is advisable to avoid the great ‘death stare’ which is more than likely going to put off viewers and probably scare them!

You do not usually note a person’s raising eyebrows, concerned glances and random nods of the head but try watching a news report without the sound!