How to Read a Teleprompter

Contributor

By Kent Ninomiya
eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating:

(20 Ratings)

How to Read a Teleprompter

Reading a Teleprompter effectively is a lot more difficult than many people think. First of all, most people don't read aloud as well as they think they do. Add to that the difficulties of the sentences being cut up to two or three words per line and those lines moving at a distance while you have lights in your face. Meanwhile there are thousands of people watching you closely. Deal with all this while appearing not to be reading at all.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Teleprompter
Teleprompter Operator
Television Studio
Television Cameras

Step 1

Don't fixate on the words. Novice teleprompter readers squint and stare at the words as they fly by. Moving words tend to frighten people. It forces them to read faster and make mistakes. That is why it is painfully obvious when watching someone with little experience with a teleprompter. Look at the teleprompter naturally. Notice what is happening to your face. If you are straining to focus on the teleprompter then stop.
Step 2

Know your material. It is imperative that you know the story you are reading before you see it on the teleprompter. If you are already familiar with the script you are less likely to strain to see the words. Reading a teleprompter effectively is all about not appearing to be reading. If your face is contorted and eyes moving around it will be obvious that you are.
Step 3

Use the teleprompter as a guide. Do not try to read every word exactly as it is written on the teleprompter. Every anchor makes mistakes. Sometimes words are misspelled. Occasionally a long word will be cut in half because it is too long for a line. Whatever the problem, if you get lost in your script you will fall apart on camera. If you already know your story well then you can adapt to whatever happens. The teleprompter is a helpful tool but you must be able to communicate without it. Every teleprompter goes down at some point. If you are completely reliant on it you will be in big trouble when it eventually fails you.
Step 4

Dictate the pace. Don't let the pace dictate you. There is a temptation to read faster when the words are scrolling off the screen. Always remember that it is not your obligation to play catch up. Read the teleprompter at your own speed and make the operator adjust to you.
Step 5

Be natural and just talk. You may be looking at words on the teleprompter but all those people on the other side of the camera are looking at your face. They aren't thinking about the fact that you are reading. You should therefore not give them any reason to think you are reading. Speak fluidly with natural pauses and inflection. Every time you catch yourself reading stop and just talk.
Step 6

Practice. Effectively reading a teleprompter is all about confidence and comfort in front of the camera. The only way to gain that is through repetition. When reading a teleprompter comes as naturally as breathing you will be ready. Eventually you will forget the teleprompter is even there.

Comments

marthareggie said

Flag This Comment

on 6/17/2009 Your article was interesting. It is amazing to me how people on television make reading a teleprompter appear to be effortless. Like you stated, it is more difficult than many people think.

stevetuf said

on 6/6/2009 Great advice, Kent! I felt I was right there in the studio reading my first bit of news and you were there to stop me from making every silly mistake a novice broadcaster makes!