Introduction:
A television anchor's job is among the most the challenging in television. An anchor is the focal point of every broadcast and can set the tone. Whether it is a regular day in the newsroom or one of intense terror, the anchor must remain calm and project an air of togetherness for her viewers. In this lesson, you will look at the various difficulties in an anchor's job through research, role play, and reflective writing.
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Activities:
Task One - Breaking News
On a regular day, an anchor must be well-informed, organized and thorough. On a day when important news is breaking, an anchor must be all of these things and more. Viewers need anchors who are composed in the face of tragedy and who can give them up to the minute information.
Read these articles regarding the job of an anchor:
An Anchor's Work
Skills Without Script
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Throughout this lesson, you need to think about how you would answer the following question -
What is difficult about anchoring the news? |
Task Two - Do It Yourself
Now that you have an idea of the challenges anchors face, you will participate in this role play which will help you to experience the job of an anchor. 1. Get into partners.
2. Each partner should get a news script from the teacher.
3. Each of you will become an anchor using the script your partner has been given.
4. You will not be allowed to look at the script you will be reading until it is time for you to report.
5. Once you are looking at the script, you are responsible for giving the news report just as an anchor would (with composure while making eye contact)
6. Your partner's job will be to count the number of times you look up at the "viewers".
7. Once you have had the chance to become an anchor, you and your partner will switch roles.
Just as you had the chance to do in the role play, anchors must often report news that they have not had the chance to see. |
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Objectives:
You will be able to
- recognize what is news
- state and evaluate an author's theme, tone, and viewpoint
- assess an author's ideas and techniques
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Resources:
- news scripts
- access to the internet
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Task Two - Continued . . .
Viewers expect anchors to give the them all important facts while remaining calm and collected.
Task Three - The Pros
Now that you have tried playing the role of an anchor, watch a few video clips of anchors reporting during the chaos of a major tragedy. You may choose to watch videos from one of the following events:
1. Attack on the World Trade Center
2. Deadly Asian Tsunami
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While you are watching the videos, keep in mind the question -
What is difficult about anchoring the news?
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After watching the videos, discuss with your class what the anchors in the videos did well. What qualities must a strong anchor have in order to succeed.
Task Four - What's the Answer?
Now that you have had several opportunities to consider the challenges of anchoring the news, you will complete a reflective writing piece in your notebooks.
Now it is time to answer the question you have been considering throughout this lesson -
What is difficult about anchoring the news?
Using as many examples as you can from the activities you have completed in this lesson, describe what you think would be difficult about anchoring the news. |
You may also want to consider and answer other questions that are related to being an anchor:
What is the perception of an anchor's job?
What type of training do you need as an anchor?
What does it take to be a strong anchor? |
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