Main Anchor Reporting

[MichiganNewsGraphicsJunkie 1160]

If this belongs someplace else, please move to appropriate spot...

I've been wondering what your guys' thoughts are on the main anchors and reporting duties.  Should they do so?? I notice that KNXV's main anchors, both morning and evening, do a feature story once a week on top of their anchoring duties.  To me this is refreshing.  Overall, main anchors tend to have their noses in the air and think their  doesn't stink.  They tend have God complexes and honestly seem off putting.  I understand, they are the "faces" of the station... But they did go to journalism school and I feel that doing "light" reporting duties would be even more refreshing and keep their attitudes in check.

[tyrannical bastard 4684]

1 hour ago, MichiganNewsGraphicsJunkie said:

If this belongs someplace else, please move to appropriate spot...

I've been wondering what your guys' thoughts are on the main anchors and reporting duties.  Should they do so?? I notice that KNXV's main anchors, both morning and evening, do a feature story once a week on top of their anchoring duties.  To me this is refreshing.  Overall, main anchors tend to have their noses in the air and think their  doesn't stink.  They tend have God complexes and honestly seem off putting.  I understand, they are the "faces" of the station... But they did go to journalism school and I feel that doing "light" reporting duties would be even more refreshing and keep their attitudes in check.

Absolutely.  If they're doing original reporting on a worthy subject. 

 

But if it's a pet project to heighten their own profile, or are simply re-voicing national packages, then no.

[newsman123 143]

First of all, show some respect for those main anchors. They are the highest paid people in a newsroom, for a reason.. and they earned it. Most of them are the most seasoned on air folks in the building, having worked their way up to incredibly hard to get positions. They are the gatekeepers of the newscast. They bring talents you don't have. So their destiny.. is up to them. 
 

But to answer your question, yes, most primary anchors these days are expected to turn a franchise or specialty piece two days a week or

more, and should be open to it. 

 

[MediaZone4K 2686]

2 hours ago, MichiganNewsGraphicsJunkie said:

If this belongs someplace else, please move to appropriate spot...

I've been wondering what your guys' thoughts are on the main anchors and reporting duties.  Should they do so?? I notice that KNXV's main anchors, both morning and evening, do a feature story once a week on top of their anchoring duties.  To me this is refreshing.  Overall, main anchors tend to have their noses in the air and think their  doesn't stink.  They tend have God complexes and honestly seem off putting.  I understand, they are the "faces" of the station... But they did go to journalism school and I feel that doing "light" reporting duties would be even more refreshing and keep their attitudes in check.

It's good for main anchors to turn a package now and again to keep their reporting abilities fresh and to give them subtle reminders of what street reporting is like. It's important because as you mentioned some of them DO have God complexes. I was fortunate enough to work in a newsroom where one of the anchors volunteered  to turn packages everyday  out of boredum from the gap between the evening and nightly newscasts. The anchor was even willing to MMJ if no cameraman was available. 

 

I respect anchors in that they have to be the faces of the station and face more scrutiny than reporters if ratings are down. These days anchors are talking for multiple hours on end rather than an old school 30 to 60 minute news cast. That being said, reporters have a significantly harder job. 

Edited 1 hour ago by MediaZone4K

[GodfreyGR 816]

3 minutes ago, MediaZone4K said:

and to give them subtle reminders of what street reporting is like.

Overall, I think its good for anyone in any profession to step back and fill some duties from their prior roles. I'm reminded of KBJR news director Michael Baldwin stepping in to anchor the weekend news as part of the rotation of other anchors, reports, and producers filling the vacancy. I appreciate his line "I believe you shouldn't ask your staff to do something you wouldn't do yourself".

 

In the past few years, it also hasn't been uncommon during breaking news to see anchors from the Minneapolis stations out in the field reporting- perhaps it's been out of convenience of geography or timing, but nevertheless good to see when they could easily say they're off the clock. I forget which events, but Kelly O'Connell (KMSP), Jana Shortal (KARE), and Mike Max (WCCO) stand out as examples.