Get the Inside Scoop on How You Can Become a News Anchor (2024)

TV news anchors are the people who present the news at the various television stations and networks. You know these people—the ones sitting behind a desk or out on the beat telling you what happened in the world that day. Whether broadcasting from a small local station or manning one of the broadcast network’s primetime news shows, TV news anchors compile news stories and deliver them.

The Skills You Need

Being a news anchor requires a number of skills, the first of which is a comfort level in front of the camera. An element of show business comes with the job of a news anchor—not only do you need to be comfortable in front of the camera, but you need to connect with the audience so that people want to watch you as opposed to your competition. Feeling comfortable speaking to the camera is not a skill most people are born with, but you can acquire and hone it.

Excellent verbal, written, improvisational, and interviewing skills are imperative. Add to those qualities persistence and objectivity, physical stamina, being a team player, projecting a professional image, and having a knowledge of social media.

News anchors also need to be able to think on their feet. While many anchors read scripts off of a teleprompter or notes on their desk, information can also be transmitted aurally. If news is breaking, a producer may feed the information to an anchor on the spur of the moment. The anchor needs to be able to absorb the information that's coming in and then relay that information to the audience in a clear and concise manner.

The Downside

While news anchor jobs come with a lot of visibility and fame, the position also comes with long hours, hard work, constant deadlines, andunpredictable natural and world events. These range from political scandals to school shootings to terrorist attacks. Anchors need a stomach for negative stories and the ability to remain objective and unemotional in the face of disaster.

Educational Requirments

Television news anchors must have a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism or communications, relevant internship experience, and work experience in smaller cities. Learning the craft in small markets provides necessary training if a broadcast journalist wants to work their way up and become successful. While not required for employment, completing amaster's degree programprovides students with additional training in the field. Master's degrees are available in broadcast journalism and communications. Candidates with graduate degrees typically have a competitive advantage when seeking job opportunities or advancements.

Salaries Vary

Salaries vary greatly depending on whether or not you work in local news (in a smaller town like Poughkeepsie or a bigger market like Chicago) or if you're a network anchor. For example, according to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics, a news anchor at a Phoenix TV station earns between $30,000 and $35,000. For those who make it to the big leagues (like ABC, NBC, CBS, etc.), salaries can range from $18 million to $37 a million a year—the salary of former FoxNews anchorBill O'Reilly, who reportedly was the highest-paid TV news personality before leaving Fox in2017.

The News-Gathering Part of the Job

The amount of reporting involved in an anchor’s job depends on where the anchor works and what type of broadcast they work on. Some anchors, especially at local news stations, report their own stories, perhaps with the help of producers. That's because budgets are tight and many local stations keep a slim staff. Local anchors may also write their own stories, in which case they are functioning more like reporters. The general newscast delivered from behind a desk is usually not written by the network anchor but rather a staff of writers who work for the show. The well-known exception to this rule was the hard-hitting Dan Rather, who also served as the executive producer of his nightly newscasts on CBS-TV.

How to Get a Job as an Anchor

Aspiring anchors need to spend time in front of the camera. Most people get jobs because they have a tape of their work on-air. Before you look for a job as an anchor, complete an internship at a local station (if it affords you some air time), or study communications in college. American journalism schools have both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. At school, you can at least create a sample tape to send to TV stations.

Once you have a tape, start looking for jobs at local stations. There are also myriad opportunities on-air at various cable news channels.

Get the Inside Scoop on How You Can Become a News Anchor (2024)

FAQs

What do you need to become a news anchor? ›

News anchors typically hold a bachelor's degree in journalism, communications or related fields. Some may go on to pursue a master's degree in broadcast journalism. Some universities offer rigorous master's programs in journalism that prepare students for careers as news anchors.

How hard is it to become a news anchor? ›

A four-year bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, English, political science, or a related field is probably necessary to obtain this position. A higher degree (master's or doctorate) in a related field, which may take an additional two-five years to earn, would be more valuable.

Do news anchors do their own hair and makeup? ›

“That's probably the biggest myth about local news. Almost all reporters and anchors, we do our own hair and makeup,” she said. While getting ready, she usually looks over scripts, makes edits and works with the producers to go over any pronunciations.

Do news anchors make a lot of money? ›

The average salary for broadcasters, a group that includes news anchors, is $57,966 per year . Typically, news anchors make more money than news reporters.

Can I be a news anchor without a degree? ›

Yes. A degree is not required to be a news anchor. However, people who have degrees will often get jobs before people who don't.

Is there an age limit for news anchors? ›

First of all, there is no such age limit to become an Anchor. For becoming one, all you need is passion, dedication and love for your work. An Anchor is a person who presents a news or delivers a program on TV, Radio or the Internet. You can either become a Broadcast Anchor or an Event Anchor.

How much money does a local news anchor make? ›

NEWS Anchor Salary
Annual SalaryMonthly Pay
Top Earners$120,000$10,000
75th Percentile$61,500$5,125
Average$60,575$5,047
25th Percentile$29,000$2,416

Is news anchor a good career? ›

News anchor jobs are highly coveted, and many who obtain those positions stay in them for a long time. If you want to lead a news broadcast as an anchor, you should have a bachelor's degree and work experience to prove you have the skills to think on your feet and lead a live television show.

How do I become a news reporter with no experience? ›

What Are the Qualifications to Get a Job in Journalism With No Experience? To get a no experience journalism job, you need strong research abilities and excellent written and verbal communication skills. It's recommended you pursue a bachelor's degree in journalism, English, marketing, or a related field.

Why do all female news anchors wear sleeveless dresses? ›

There's a reason why the women of TV news have embraced sleevelessness while treading carefully in matters like cleavage (sexy weather reporters aside). Bare arms read as a kind of smart-sexy, a look that women in positions of authority can pull off.

What hours do local news anchors work? ›

Shifts worked may vary greatly: morning news anchors may need to begin working at 2 a.m., but may be off of work by noon. Evening news anchors may need to read the news for after-work, after-dinner, and before-bed broadcasts all in a single day. Anchors may also be required to work on weekends and holidays.

Do news anchors have a dress code? ›

Television reporters dress appropriately for the story they are covering. If they are an anchor, they wear business attire. However, if they are reporting from the field, they may wear anything from business attire, protective weather gear, or a local sports team's jersey.

How much does Al Roker make per year? ›

What is Al Roker's annual salary? Al Roker's annual salary with TODAY is a whopping $10 million a year. His most recent contract with NBC was a five-year, $50 million contract. Roker does have additional income each year depending on the other projects he undertakes, like Broadway shows and writing books.

Who is the highest paid News Anchor? ›

1. Sean Hannity. Sean Hannity, a stalwart at Fox News as host of "The Sean Hannity Show" earns $40 million at the broadcast network, and has an estimated net worth of $250 million.

Who is the most famous News Anchor of all time? ›

Seven of the Most Famous Journalists of All Time. The profession of journalism has been shaped by many people over the years. Some of the most famous journalists of all time include Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, Christiane Amanpour, Edward Murrow, Tim Russert, Hunter S. Thompson and Walter Cronkite.

What skills are required to be an anchor? ›

Skills required for TV news anchors
  • Public speaking. TV news anchors need excellent public speaking skills to help them deliver daily news stories and conduct interviews with confidence. ...
  • Confidence. ...
  • Interviewing skills. ...
  • Interpersonal skills. ...
  • Objectivity. ...
  • Teamwork. ...
  • Stamina. ...
  • Social media.
Apr 17, 2020

Who was the youngest news anchor? ›

At 26, Jennings was, and remains, the youngest-ever U.S. network news anchor.

Can anyone be a news reporter? ›

News analysts, reporters, and journalists typically need a bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or a related field, such as English. Bachelor's degree programs in journalism and communications include courses in journalistic ethics and techniques for researching topics and conducting interviews.

How long does it take to become a news reporter? ›

It takes 2 years of professional experience to become a reporter. That is the time it takes to learn specific reporter skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 5 to 7 years years to become a reporter.

How do I start a career in news media? ›

Here are the steps you need to take if you are interested in becoming a professional journalist:
  1. Pursue a bachelor's degree. ...
  2. Work for the school media. ...
  3. Start a blog. ...
  4. Create a portfolio. ...
  5. Seek an internship. ...
  6. Write a resume. ...
  7. Submit to job postings. ...
  8. Seek out freelancing opportunities.
Feb 4, 2020

What do news anchors do when they're not on the air? ›

7. What do anchors do when they are not on the air? Answer: They can research background for an upcoming interview, scroll the wires, review upcoming scripts and get any questions answered.

What do you call a female news anchor? ›

an·​chor·​wom·​an ˈaŋ-kər-ˌwu̇-mən. Synonyms of anchorwoman. : a woman who anchors a broadcast.

Why do news anchors move their heads? ›

Head motion, especially a nod of disagreement, can get the attention of TV directors and producers. If, for example, you are appearing on a Cable TV news show and another guest is attacking you or saying something you strongly disagree with, you may want to shake your head in disagreement.

Do female newscasters buy their own clothes? ›

No, they don't. A lot of times, the news station will have a stylist on staff who picks out the clothes for the anchors to wear.

Why do news anchors wear solid colors? ›

In many cases, busy patterns can actually create an image that's distracting for the viewer as they tend to appear to move on their own on your clothing. When dressing as a news anchor, solid colors are a much safer choice.

Do news anchors write their own? ›

News anchors specialize in presenting the news to the listening or viewing public. They report the facts and may sometimes be asked to provide editorial commentary. They may write their own scripts or rely on the station's writing team to write the script, which they then read over the TelePrompTer.

What is hodas net worth? ›

1. What is Hoda Kotb's net worth? Celebrity Net Worth estimates that Kotb's net worth is a cool $30 million. (And yes, it has a lot to do with the Today show.)

What's Kelly Ripa's annual salary? ›

Ripa makes an annual salary of $22 million each year as a co-host on Live With Kelly, according to Celerbity Net Worth.

What is Michael Strahan salary? ›

Strahan makes an estimated $17 million per year and has a net worth of approximately $65 million.

Who is the number one News Anchor in the United States? ›

Lester Holt, NBC News

When it comes to the best news journalists, Lester Holt continues to be one of the most recognized names in the industry. Having been the permanent news anchor on NBC Nightly News since 2015, he regularly covers some of the most hard-hitting stories in the world.

What is Greg Gutfeld salary at Fox? ›

Greg Gutfeld is also one of five co-hosts and panelists on the political talk show The Five on Fox News.
...
Greg Gutfeld Net Worth 2023.
Net Worth:$84 Million
Name:Greg Gutfeld
Salary:$17 Million
Monthly Income:$3 Million
Date of Birth:September 12, 1964
5 more rows
Feb 20, 2023

How much does a Fox News anchor make? ›

What is the average salary of Fox News Anchor? Fox News Anchors earn $75,000 annually, or $36 per hour, which is 26% higher than the national average for all Anchors at $58,000 annually and 13% higher than the national salary average for ​all working Americans.

Who is the most trusted anchor? ›

According to a new Hollywood Reporter/Morning Consult survey of about 2,200 adults, NBC Nightly News host Lester Holt is the most trusted television news personality in America, trusted “a lot” by 32 percent of respondents and “some” by 30 percent.

Who is the oldest news anchor? ›

Bob Schieffer
BornBob Lloyd Schieffer February 25, 1937 Austin, Texas, U.S.
EducationTexas Christian University
Occupation(s)Journalist, Anchor
Years active1963–present
7 more rows

Who was America's first female news anchor? ›

When Dorothy Fuldheim began her legendary news career, she was already in her 50s. Retiring from teaching but not the workforce, she entered the field via radio, heading a local history program on WTAM and a weekly editorial on ABC.

What is qualifications required to become a news anchor and their ability? ›

Skills required for TV news anchors
  • Public speaking. TV news anchors need excellent public speaking skills to help them deliver daily news stories and conduct interviews with confidence. ...
  • Confidence. ...
  • Interviewing skills. ...
  • Interpersonal skills. ...
  • Objectivity. ...
  • Teamwork. ...
  • Stamina. ...
  • Social media.
Apr 17, 2020

How much do news local anchors make? ›

While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $152,500 and as low as $15,000, the majority of NEWS Anchor salaries currently range between $29,000 (25th percentile) to $61,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $120,000 annually across the United States.

What college course is news anchor? ›

The Bachelor of Arts in Journalism is a four-year degree program that deals with the concepts, theories, and principles of news writing, feature writing, editing, copy reading and advertising.

What is the highest salary for a news anchor? ›

The salaries of Tv Anchors in the US range from $25,486 to $672,631 , with a median salary of $122,337 . The middle 57% of Tv Anchors makes between $122,337 and $304,498, with the top 86% making $672,631.

What is the minimum salary of a news reporter? ›

News Reporter salary in India with less than 1 year of experience to 10 years ranges from ₹ 0.2 Lakhs to ₹ 5.8 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹ 2.2 Lakhs based on 446 latest salaries.

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