Reading 2 tv News Careers

On-air personalities like anchors, reporters and meteorologists are the most visible members of television news teams, but TV newsrooms are filled with many more people. Without them our nightly or 24-hour broadcasts would cease to exist. Life in the newsroom is fast-paced, competitive, exciting and stressful. Since news happens around-the-clock, the staffing of newsrooms usually follows suit. Don't expect a 9 to 5 job. A career in TV news can mean irregular schedules, long hours and meeting tight deadlines.

News Anchor

To viewers, the news anchor is the face of the newsroom. Although he or she is just one member of the team, it is this person whom the public identifies with the broadcast. Securing an audience's trust and loyalty is important because once that relationship is established, viewers will continue to turn to that channel to get the day's news. The news anchor introduces stories, interacts with reporters, interviews experts and sometimes provides analysis of, and commentary on, stories.

News anchors usually have a background in journalism. Many work as reporters early in their careers. They work their way up through the ranks, sometimes anchoring weekend broadcasts or filling in during vacations. Those who work on national broadcasts or on shows in big cities, usually began their careers in smaller markets. 

Reporter

Almost as visible as news anchors, are reporters. They are usually in the midst of all the action, delivering news straight from the field. For some this means going out into communities to interview sources on camera. Others report from war zones and storm-ravaged areas. Some conduct "man on the street" interviews with passersby.

Those who want to become reporters generally major in journalism or communications in college. Like anchors they often begin their careers in small markets. Some end up in large cities or reporting for national news shows. Others become anchors. 

Broadcast Meteorologist

The TV weatherman is the reason many viewers tune into the news in the first place. How else would we know what to wear the next day? The meteorologist's forecasts sometimes give us hope about upcoming days, and other times, quite literally, dampen our spirits.

Some meteorologists are scientists by training, having earned degrees in atmospheric science or in a related discipline. Many, however, have degrees in broadcast journalism or communications. While meteorologists generally report from the newsroom, they sometimes go to the story, visiting storm-ravaged locales or places where environmental disasters have struck. 

Web Master / Social Media Manager

Although viewers generally don't even know what he or she looks like, a news broadcast's webmaster or social media manager often represents its public face. He or she is responsible for maintaining the website, blogging and posting stories on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. This person interacts with viewers in a way that on-air personalities often do not.

Web masters and social media managers may collaborate with news directors, producers, anchors, reporters, meteorologists and writers, in other words anyone who needs to interact with the public via the website or social media outlets. Typically he or she must have experience in journalism, particularly in television newsrooms and expertise in online communications and social networking.