TV Anchors Are Doing Their Own Hair and Makeup Now (2024)

The first time CBS This Morning co-host Tony Dokoupil did his own hair and makeup, a new right of passage for on-air television journalists working from home due to the pandemic, he looked, well, slightly less polished than normal. "Some viewers thought I might have early symptoms of coronavirus. 'Are you feeling OK?,' was a typical message on social media," he tells Allure. "Pretty quickly, my makeup goals shifted from 'try to look good' to 'try not to look unwell.'"

The phrase "television news anchor" calls up a specific image, one that includes a toothy white smile, a polished blowout, invisible pores, and HD-friendly makeup. In accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, television newsrooms are attempting to socially distance, which means your favorite anchor is likely working — and broadcasting — from home. Which also means without a glam team.

News is arguably more crucial than ever, and anchors point out that how they look is far less important than the story they're on-air to share. "I want the viewer to focus on the content of the story," says CBS White House correspondent Weijia Jiang. "No matter what story I'm covering, I always have to be mindful about avoiding a distraction with my appearance. If all of a sudden I'm in a ponytail with no makeup, I think that could be as distracting as wearing too much."

Until recently, news anchors on major networks had hairstylists and makeup artists, who did the work of prepping their appearance. While some anchors like Dokoupil are doing their own makeup for the first time, others who started out in local news are tapping into leftover hair and makeup experience from early in their careers.

"When I worked in local news, I spent years doing my makeup in the passenger seat of a bumpy live truck in the dark at 4 a.m. on my way to cover stories," says CBS Chief Congressional Correspondent Nancy Cordes. "For better or worse, I have a lot of experience doing my own hair and makeup. It doesn't look as good as when the pros do it — especially the hair — but I think the viewers understand. We're all making do in so many ways right now."

TV Anchors Are Doing Their Own Hair and Makeup Now (2024)

FAQs

Do the news anchors do their own hair and make up? ›

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. Zenzie explained heavier makeup is a requirement for appearing on-screen, so primping can be an arduous task.

Do CNN anchors do their own makeup? ›

Answer: CNN does provide make-up artists/hairstylists for the anchors if they want to use them. 6. What are the steps to ultimately becoming an anchor? Answer: Typically, an anchor is a reporter in a local market before moving up to work for a national news network like CNN.

Do all news anchors wear makeup? ›

Most of the anchors you see on your local news station (and even some national programs) are required to take care of their own makeup.

Why do newscasters wear makeup? ›

Bright lights make most faces look washed out and unattractive, so a lot of the makeup is just to make anchors look natural (men are wearing that makeup too). Women are generally given more makeup because they want the women to look perfect, and “natural” women aren't appreciated nearly enough by the everyday person.

Why do 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.

Do female newscasters rent their clothes? ›

Each station has a set of dress and appearance standards (called a “cosmetic clause”) in the newscaster's contract . The clothes are chosen by a wardrobe consultant. They're purchased with wardrobe money from the station and become the property of the newscaster.

Do male news anchors wear mascara? ›

Yes they do, not because they like to . It is because when camera is on focus, it will give a dizzy appearence even to slightest sweat on your face. They use talcum and face powders regularly so that the face appears clear.

What time do morning news anchors wake up? ›

Typical Work Schedule

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.

Can newscasters have tattoos? ›

As long as the tattoo is hidden on TV, and during the job interview. The tattoo should not be an issue. Tattoos are subjective. Something that looks aesthetically pleasing to you may appear to be in bad taste or tacky to others.

Do news anchors wear pants? ›

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way content is produced, as everyone from newscasters to A-list celebrities are forced to work from home -- but they typically wear pants. “A poorly-kept secret industry secret is that the bottom half of a broadcaster's wardrobe often isn't as professional as the top half.

Do newscasters use teleprompters? ›

Sitting at a desk in front of the camera, the anchor reads from a teleprompter to narrate the segments of the show. They provide details about recent events before introducing news packages, and they signal when the newscast takes and returns from commercial breaks.

What do news anchors actually do? ›

News Anchors narrate or write news stories, reviews, or commentary for print, broadcast, or other communications media such as newspapers, magazines, radio, or television. May collect and analyze information through interview, investigation, or observation.

Do newscasters get a clothing allowance? ›

Many stations will do this as a “trade” agreement… the store agrees to provide a certain dollar amount in clothing to the station's personalities. In exchange, the store gets that amount of free advertising and/or they are mentioned in the credit roll seen at the end of the newscast.

What foundation do they use on TV? ›

Makeup artists use Oxygenetix because it's...

After a long history in Hollywood, Oxygenetix is proven to look good on camera and remain luminous under hot lights. This no-sweat foundation even holds up during the most active scenes, making their look last.

How many hours do CNN anchors work? ›

2. How long is an anchor's shift? Answer: CNN--typically an 8-hour shift. Headline News--4.5-hour shift with 3 on-air hours.

Why do female meteorologists always wear dresses? ›

“It's important to look smart and presentable,” adds Ghaffar. “People look at you before they go to work so you want to mirror the way they are likely to be dressing.” More than anything, says Lloyd, the dresses work because “they do not battle against the map. The map is sacrosanct.

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? ›

“Rather than stand there looking stupid for several beats after the anchor has tossed to you, the field reporters start nodding as they hear their introduction so they appear engaged during the delay,” Wendy explained. “It's actually quite comforting to do it.

How much do local newscasters make a year? ›

News Anchor Salary
Annual SalaryWeekly Pay
Top Earners$92,500$1,778
75th Percentile$75,500$1,451
Average$65,563$1,260
25th Percentile$54,000$1,038

Who is the female news anchor with no hands? ›

Bree Walker (born Patricia Lynn Nelson; February 26, 1953) is an American radio talk show host, actress, and disability-rights activist. She gained fame as the first on-air American television network news anchor with ectrodactyly.

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.

Are news anchors trained to talk like that? ›

Short answer: they're trained to. Not all journalism schools have a formal voice class as a requirement for graduation, but many do, and even if they don't a certain amount of coaching about speech and delivery is a part of the curriculum. Why does every news reporter from the 70s sound the same?

Why are news anchors not wearing ties? ›

“We want to reflect our audience, and the tie is a barrier between us and the audience,” Dobson said to the paper. 'It's a piece of cloth, and if we can remove that, and reflect our audience better than we are now, we think it's a more comfortable viewing experience.”

Who has the number 1 morning news show? ›

ABC News' “Good Morning America” won the July 2022 sweep in both Total Viewers (2.949 million) and Adults 25-54 (632,000), based on Most Current Data from Nielsen Media Research, representing “GMA”'s first news demo win during the month in 7 years — since July 2015.

How much money do Morning Show anchors make? ›

How much does a Morning News Anchor make? As of May 21, 2023, the average monthly pay for a Morning News Anchor in the United States is $4,649 a month.

Who is the morning anchor for NBC news now? ›

Savannah Sellers - Anchor, Morning News Now - NBC News | LinkedIn.

Do news anchors have degrees? ›

Most news anchors have a bachelor's degree. The most common areas of study are Mass Communication and Media Studies, and Journalism.

What is a lady face tattoo? ›

The Lady head tattoo is classic imagery in tattooing. It can have various meanings for different people. It can be an image of beauty, femininity, romance, a heroine, a muse, desire, independence, or good luck. This style of tattoo dates to traditional sailor tattoos.

Can anyone be a news 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. And you'll need a solid resume tape—a highlight reel of your best clips—to show to potential employers.

Do today show hosts dress themselves? ›

This morning on TODAY, Natalie and Savannah Guthrie revealed another oft-pondered viewer question: Do the anchors coordinate their outfits prior to the show? As evidenced by their clashing patterns, the answer is no.

Is news anchor a hard job? ›

The news anchor workload is demanding, and involves much more than interpreting a teleprompter. The following is a list of some of the chief responsibilities of a news anchor. It should be noted, however, that the size of the station may dictate the degree to which the news anchor is involved in research and writing.

Is being a news anchor stressful? ›

A news anchor's work environment is fast-paced and often stressful. Anchors covering news about natural disasters, crime or wars might be in dangerous situations.

Why do news anchors hold ipads? ›

It's all thanks to teleprompters. These display devices enable a presenter to read from a prepared script or speech while maintaining eye contact with the camera at all times.

How fast do news anchors speak? ›

On the other, hand if the anchor speak too fast, it becomes hard for the audience to make sense of what is being spoken. According to research, a professional news anchor reads at a speed of 150 to 175 words per minute.

What is the difference between a newscaster and an anchor? ›

A news presenter – also known as a newsreader, newscaster (short for "news broadcaster"), anchorman or anchorwoman, news anchor or simply an anchor – is a person who presents news during a news program on TV, radio or the Internet.

Who is the most famous news anchor of all time? ›

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. A list of the most influential journalists could not be complete without this group of people.

Where do news anchors make the most money? ›

Local News Anchors make the most in San Francisco, CA at $104,340, averaging total compensation 51% greater than the US average.

How much does the highest paid news anchor make? ›

The Highest-Paid News Anchors in 2019
  • Sean Hannity. Salary - $40 million. ...
  • Diane Sawyer. Salary - $22 million. ...
  • Robin Roberts. Salary - $18 million. ...
  • George Stephanopoulos. Salary - $15 million. ...
  • Anderson Cooper. Salary - $12 million. ...
  • Shepard Smith. Salary - $10 million. ...
  • Maria Bartiromo. Salary - $10 million. ...
  • Joe Scarborough.
Aug 25, 2019

Who does makeup on Fox news? ›

Bridget Grover - Hair and Makeup Artist Freelance - Fox News Channel | LinkedIn.

What is it anchors the hair into the skin? ›

A hair follicle anchors each hair into the skin. The hair bulb forms the base of the hair follicle. In the hair bulb, living cells divide and grow to build the hair shaft.

What is newscaster hair? ›

If you've ever tuned in to your local 6 o'clock news, or simply stared mindlessly at the CNN feed blaring on the screen by your airport gate, you'll recognize the cut Katro got that day: hair that falls between the chin and collarbone; sleek strands are blown out to perfection, not a flyaway in sight.

How much do Fox News casters make? ›

Fox News Channel Salary
Annual SalaryMonthly Pay
Top Earners$117,500$9,791
75th Percentile$81,500$6,791
Average$63,231$5,269
25th Percentile$33,000$2,750

Who is the bald anchor on Fox News? ›

Steve Hilton
CitizenshipBritish American
Alma materNew College, Oxford
OccupationPolitical commentator
Political partyConservative
5 more rows

Who is the Fox News anchor with red hair? ›

Trish Regan
Regan in 2021
BornPatricia Ann Regan December 13, 1972 Hampton, New Hampshire, US
Alma materColumbia University (BA)
OccupationTelevision host
4 more rows

What chemicals destroy hair follicles? ›

Sodium Hydroxide and Calcium Hydroxide (Lime and Lye).

This combination increases the hair's PH level until the acidity destroys the follicles.

What happens to hair stuck under skin? ›

Sometimes, a hair gets trapped under the skin before it leaves the follicle, resulting in an ingrown hair. At other times, a hair grows out of the follicle but curls back on itself and reenters the skin. When hair becomes trapped underneath the skin, it can irritate the skin.

What is the white stuff at the end of the hair follicle? ›

"The white bulb at the end of the hair is keratin (or protein) and is the same keratin that makes up your skin and nails. A white bulb is not indicative of hair loss," said stylist Carrie Capalbo of Salon YOSHIKO. "It's part of the lining of the hair follicles.

What anchor got fired for hair? ›

Anchor Brittany Noble Jones said she was fired from her morning anchor job in Jackson, Mississippi, in 2018, after the reporter, who is African American, wore her hair braided on air. She later said her boss called the hairstyle unprofessional and compared it to "wearing a baseball cap."

Does Jennifer Aniston do hair? ›

Do Regular Hair and Scalp Treatments. Every Sunday, Aniston fits in a weekly deep conditioning treatment—typically the Living Proof Restore Mask—while getting her nails done and watching 60 minutes, says McMillan. Another all-important supplementary treatment is Drunk Elephant's T.L.C.

What is Amish hair? ›

Amish women keep their hair long and never cut or style it, while men are allowed to keep their hair shorter but still must wear hats when outdoors.

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