Education Requirements to Be TV Anchors
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall employment for news analysts, reporters and correspondents is expected to decline 6 percent from 2008 to 2018, but employment is expected to increase 4 percent for television news anchors. TV anchors are the most recognizable part of the news media. The anchors read, and sometimes research, stories about current events such as breaking news and local happenings on-camera.
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Minimum Education Requirements
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A bachelor's degree from an accredited university is the minimum requirement to become a TV anchor. According to the BLS, media employers prefer that prospective TV anchors have a bachelor's degree in mass communications, broadcast journalism or journalism. During their four-year undergraduate study, anchors typically have a combination of liberal arts requirements in addition to their major courses. This means they will take courses such as history, foreign language, math and psychology. Their major courses may include --- but are not limited to --- television broadcasting, news writing, film production and film editing. Many broadcast journalism programs offer school studios where aspiring TV anchors are required to deliver campus news on-camera.
Practical Experience
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Typically, aspiring TV anchors complete practical experience such as internships during their undergraduate studies. They can also complete internships and part-time work after they graduate. Internships typically offer little to no payment, but may provide college credit. However, internships offer aspiring TV anchors valuable practical training. Although they do not appear on camera reading the news, they do learn the business side of journalism, as well as how to write news stories and conduct interviews. According to BLS, internship can lead to full-time employment.
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Educational Requirements for Career Changers
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Although some news stations do hire aspiring anchors who have graduated with a bachelor's degree in another subject, most require education and understanding of journalism. Thus, aspiring TV anchors with an undergraduate degree in a different subject can complete a master's program in journalism or broadcast journalism to prepare them for a broadcasting career.
Consideration Concerning Education and Advancement
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Advancement opportunities for TV anchors aren't based on educational requirements, although the anchors need to keep up with technological advances to stay in their current jobs. However, there are no educational requirements because advancement for TV anchors is typically based on moving to larger television stations. When entering the career field, anchors may start out as news correspondents or news reporters before moving to anchor positions at small news stations in smaller cities. As anchors gain more experience, they can move to larger news markets or to network jobs.
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References
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