How to Become a News Anchor? Courses, Eligibility and Scope - Manav Rachna (2024)

Anchoring on television is one of the most sought-after career choices for many young people. As a journalism teacher who has also handled the placements of students, I can vouch for this. Almost every other student when asked what option he or she would like to pursue as a career, the answer would invariably be anchoring. A whole generation of Indians has literally grown up watching a suave Rajdeep Sardesai, a gritty Barkha Dutt, an aggressive Arnab Goswami and not to forget a down-to-earth Ravish Kumar on Primetime across channels and have been enamoured by their glamour and the sense of authority that they exude. These news anchors/presenters are stars in their own right. The people see them as messiahs who take up their issues, question the authorities and expose the misdeeds of people in power. In so much so that over the years, they have become the face of the channels they represent and are the main movers behind the TRPs that their shows garner.

And not just news anchors for news programmes, even those for general entertainment or sports programmes too have attracted much attention. Be it a Harsha Bhogle or a Manish Paul—they are all household names. The money and the celebrity status that comes with the job is definitely an appealing factor for the youth.

Skills Needed to be a Good News Anchor

Working under the studio lights is much more than just reading off a teleprompter in an air-conditioned studio. It can be pretty demanding and requires multitasking. Being presentable is important, but that may not take one far if there is no substance. One must be well-read, able to articulate well, updated in current affairs and proficient in language—both in spoken and writing. Sure, appearances do matter—therefore, one must look fit, have a clear, confident style of delivery and a good diction, and a sharp presence of mind —in order to be a good news anchor. For non-news segments too, all these traits are desirable, in addition to having strong domain knowledge. This apart, one must have the aptitude to work in a team as television is all about a great team effort. And he or she must be willing to put in long hours at work as a news anchor and have no issues working at odd hours too.

Also Read :- Career As a News Reporter Duties, Responsibilities and Skills Required

Qualifications Required to Become a news Anchor

To become a news anchor, the eligibility conditions may not be strictly rigid but a Mass Communication degree definitely helps. If you check the qualifications of the well-known presenters/news anchors in the country, you will find that a majority of them have pursued some course or the other related to Mass Communication. A degree in Mass Communication gives you an edge over the others as you would be exposed to the various nuances of television production. The practical training sessions give you the experience of facing the camera, conducting live shows and panel discussions. The course also gives students grounding in the ethics and values of journalism practice and hones their writing and story-telling skill-sets.
To be eligible for a Journalism and Mass Communication course, a student must have scored at least 50% marks in aggregate in 5 subjects including English as a compulsory subject along with 4 subjects with the highest score out of the remaining subjects.

Job Prospects & Salary of a News Anchor

The opportunities in the television sector are abundant. In India, the number of television channels has grown to around 900 with many private players throwing in their hats post the 1990s economic reforms. Both TV viewership and annual advertising revenue for the TV sector have increased since 2016, according to the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) survey. This has led to an increase in the number of programmes and creation of jobs. With OTT platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime also churning out exclusive programmes, opportunities for aspiring anchors or presenters abound. The ever-growing events industry too has tremendous scope for anchors and presenters.
An entry-level news anchor with less than one year of experience can expect to earn up to 3-4 LPA. A news anchor with five to nine years of experience can earn up to 7-8 LPA.

Written By :-Ms. Mitali Mohanty, Department of Journalism & Mass Communication,MRIIRS

How to Become a News Anchor? Courses, Eligibility and Scope - Manav Rachna (2024)

FAQs

What education is needed 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.

Which course is best for news anchoring? ›

Students can pursue a Bachelor of Journalism, MAJMC (MA in Journalism and Mass Communication) to become a news anchor in India.

What qualifications do you need to anchor? ›

At a minimum, you'll need a bachelor's degree in journalism or a related field to become a news anchor. Most employers seek out candidates who have several years of on-air experience under their belt as well.

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.

What skills do you need for news anchor? ›

Requirements and skills
  • Proven work experience as a news anchor.
  • Understanding of the newscast process.
  • Broad knowledge of local, national and international affairs (e.g. political, economic, legislative and cultural)
  • Comfortable yet professional presence on camera.
  • Ability to improvise in a live on-camera setting.

What subjects do news anchors need? ›

Field of study: Journalism, English and literature, communication, rhetoric and writing, composition, social and behavioral sciences.

What is the age limit for news anchor? ›

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.

What is the minimum salary of a news anchor? ›

News Anchor salary in India ranges between ₹ 0.2 Lakhs to ₹ 18.2 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹ 2.5 Lakhs. Salary estimates are based on 272 latest salaries received from News Anchors.

How can I start my career in anchoring? ›

How to become a news anchor
  1. Pursue an undergraduate degree. You need at least a bachelor's degree in a relevant field to start applying for journalism jobs. ...
  2. Gain relevant experience. ...
  3. Apply for entry-level jobs. ...
  4. Advance in your career. ...
  5. Consider an advanced degree. ...
  6. Develop your professional network.
Jul 27, 2021

What are the 3 types of anchors? ›

Modern anchor designs that are extremely stable and able to easily grip on to surfaces are generally derived from three standard designs that have been used from the 10th century onwards. These are the – Fluked, Admiralty and Stockless anchor designs that are often still in use for small crafts and lightweight boats.

Is it easy to become a news anchor? ›

Television news anchor jobs are highly competitive, and you must have both the knowledge and personality to succeed in the field.

Do you need a degree to work in news? ›

What Are the Educational Requirements? Many employers require that reporters have at least a bachelor's degree in journalism and some experience in the field. Typically, colleges offer 4-year Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degrees in journalism, with concentrations often available.

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.

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.

What are the qualities of an anchor person? ›

To be a TV anchor, one should definitely possess the following skills:
  • Knowledge base. An anchoring job is not only to recite the scripts or reporting the happenings. ...
  • Command over the language. ...
  • Mastery of multitasking. ...
  • A good team player. ...
  • Proper use of time.

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 long is a news anchors shift? ›

Most news anchor roles are full-time jobs, and overtime is common. 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.

What is the monthly salary of anchor? ›

Average salary for a Anchor in India is 3.1 Lakhs per year (₹25.8k per month). Salary estimates are based on 263 latest salaries received from various Anchors across industries.

What benefits do news anchors get? ›

Employers of news reporters often provide life, health, dental, disability and vision insurance. Other benefits may include partner benefits, employee discounts and paid time off. An anchor earns an average annual salary of $34,416 per year .

What is anchoring skill? ›

Anchoring is a heuristic in behavioral finance that describes the subconscious use of irrelevant information, such as the purchase price of a security, as a fixed reference point (or anchor) for making subsequent decisions about that security.

What are the 5 career anchors? ›

People are generally more fulfilled in their careers when they can satisfy their career anchors and seek roles that are aligned with these.
  • Technical/Functional. ...
  • General Managerial. ...
  • Autonomy/Independence. ...
  • Security/Stability. ...
  • Entrepreneurial Creativity. ...
  • Service/Dedication to a Cause. ...
  • Pure Challenge. ...
  • Lifestyle.

What are the four steps to anchoring? ›

The Four Steps to Anchoring:
  • Have the person recall a past vivid experience.
  • Provide a specific stimulus at the peak (see chart below)
  • Change the person's state.
  • Set off the anchor to test.

What are the five 5 types of anchor? ›

Types of Anchors. We have sorted most of the common anchors into five major categories: The Hook, Plough, Fluke, Claw and Scoop.

What is the most common anchor in the US? ›

The Bruce, or Claw, remains one of the most popular anchors among recreational boaters in North America. This is our anchor of choice as well. The Bruce was developed in the 70s by the Bruce Anchor Group.

What is the scope of anchor cable? ›

A scope of cable of 10 is considered optimal, while a scope of not less than five or six is adequate. Most larger ships are fitted with about 12 shackles of cable, approximately 330 metres for each anchor. Consequently, in water depths exceeding 45 metres, the scope of cable achieved is less than six.

What are the keys to anchoring? ›

So the five keys to successful anchoring are Intensity, Timing, Uniqueness, Replicability, and Number of times.

What are the three main working principles for anchors? ›

​​​​​​​High load-carrying capacities. No expansion forces (ideal for fastenings near the edge) Suitable for anchoring in solid and hollow building materials (hollow building materials require a mesh sleeve)

How do you prepare for an anchor? ›

When securing the anchor for the sea the following steps are carried out:
  1. Ensure the Anchor is properly Home.
  2. Ensure the break is fully Closed.
  3. Put down the Chain Stopper or Guillotine and secure it with the pin.
  4. Secure the Devil's Claw to the chain.
  5. Disengage the Dog Clutch.
  6. Switch off the Windlass.

What college course is news anchor? ›

Program Overview. 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.

Is it hard to get a news anchor job? ›

Television news anchor jobs are highly competitive, and you must have both the knowledge and personality to succeed in the field.

How do I start an anchor career? ›

How to become a news anchor
  1. Pursue an undergraduate degree. You need at least a bachelor's degree in a relevant field to start applying for journalism jobs. ...
  2. Gain relevant experience. ...
  3. Apply for entry-level jobs. ...
  4. Advance in your career. ...
  5. Consider an advanced degree. ...
  6. Develop your professional network.
Jul 27, 2021

Do news anchors get paid well? ›

News anchors earn an average yearly salary of $66,880. Wages typically start from $27,370 and go up to $200,180.

Do news anchors work 7 days a week? ›

Typical Work Schedule

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.

What is the age limit for Anchor? ›

You cannot use Anchor if you are under 13 years old. If you are 13 years or older but under the age of majority (e.g. often 18 years of age), you need parental/guardian consent to use Anchor. Please note, if you violate these terms your podcast may be removed from Anchor.

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