How to Work With a Co-Anchor on the TV News

How you work with your co-anchor on the TV news will greatly influence how successful you are as an anchor. A productive partnership will improve both of your skills. Failure to work together will hinder both of you. Follow these steps to learn how to work with a co-anchor on the TV news.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Get to know your co-anchor. You don't have to be buddies, but you should have a pleasant rapport on the air. During "cross talk," you should be able to chat about general things that the audience knows about both of you. At the very least you should be "work friends."

2. Position yourself to complement your co-anchor's position. Adjust the height of your chairs so that your shoulders are at the same level. Sit with your shoulders turned slightly toward your co-anchor.

3. Listen to your co-anchor. When your partner is reading, hear what she is saying. That way when you start your next story, your tone is appropriate. It is obvious that an anchor isn't listening to his co-anchor when he sounds inappropriately jolly following a grim story or vice versa.

4. Look at your co-anchor. When you finish your story, look toward your co-anchor to "hand off" control of the show. When you follow your co-anchor, start by looking at her, then turn toward the camera. This makes for natural transitions. If all the anchors stare at the camera constantly, the show seems distant and cold. You will need to know your scripts well. This is because you will start talking while looking at your co-anchor and before you turn to the teleprompter.

5. Really talk to your co-anchor during "cross talk" in two shots. When anchor chat is forced, it is painful to watch. Have a genuine conversation with a co-anchor, and the chemistry will show. Remember to listen to what your co-anchor says and respond accordingly. Don't just wait for your turn to talk.

6. Take turns talking. Have a clear understanding of when each co-anchor should speak. For example, if one anchor reads the story leading into a two-shot, then the other anchor comments first. Arranging this ahead of time prevents you from talking at the same time.

7. Read your co-anchor's mind. When you work with a co-anchor for a long time you learn how they do things. You can predict how they will react in certain situations. This is valuable during breaking news or when the newscast is falling apart. A look or a tone of voice can be a cue from one anchor to another. Help each other when there are problems. Remember, you are a team.

Tips & Warnings

• It is important to share with your co-anchor. Forget petty rivalries. It doesn't matter who reads more stories or who gets the lead story more often. During breaking news evenly split up the available information. A selfish anchor will use all the information and leave her partner hanging. Do that and your co-anchor will hate you.
• There are times in every anchor's career when she must work with a co-anchor whom she dislikes or who is incompetent. You must do your best to work with unpleasant co-anchors anyway. You do not get to choose whom you work with. If you resent the person sitting next to you, it will show on the air. Be professional and do your job, even if your partner doesn't know what he is doing.

[angelaford]

on 8/8/2008 You CAN tell when co-anchors don't get along! do you think a lot of anchors don't really like each other behind the set? hum. interesting.