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By Chron Contributor Updated February 12, 2021
While both reporters and anchors give people new via broadcast media, there are many differences between the two job types. Both positions are aptly named. Reporters report the news. They go where the stories are, find out specifics, and provide as much information about that particular topic as possible, usually from the field. Anchors anchor the show; after each story, the newscast comes back to the familiarity of the anchors, usually at the news desk, which gives the viewer a sense of stability and balance.
Writing Duties
Reporters write their own scripts for their packages and "vosots" which stands for "voice over/sound on tape," a live voice-over with a sound bite, according to Rebus Community. If they are focused on only one story, they will conduct interviews, attend press conferences, and collect video for that package. If they have been sent out on several stories, they are responsible for writing each of those. Anchors rarely write anything. Instead, they copy-edit what in-studio producers and writers have written for them. They are responsible for every story in the show. Many times, each story will consist of merely 20 seconds of video. They will also toss back and forth to the reporters on scene.
Editing Duties
More and more, reporters are being asked to edit their own packages and even go out into the field as a one-man band, meaning they are their own photographer and editor, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Even those with photographers will denote important sounds and shots that they want included in their packages, putting together a detailed outline for their field editor. They are expected to edit together a package, and often they will recut a voice over and sound bite with updated information for a future show.
They then feed the package and raw video back to the studio. Anchors do not edit. There are in-house editors that cut the voice-over video and feed the soundbites into the show queue for them. Anchors will sometimes edit the show itself from the producing end, meaning they will suggest a certain order for stories or particular transitions and shots on live air.
Reporting Duties
Reporters at most stations are expected to go live for at least two shows. They will usually report an intro and a tag live via microwave or satellite, and in between those will go to the recorded package they fed in. They can also call in a live vosot, which means they will be talking live over fed video and give a cue to the sound editor to roll a sound bite at the appropriate time.
They are expected to find stories on their own and bring those ideas to the news meeting each day. An assignment editor then decides where the reporters will be sent. Anchors do very little in-depth reporting, although there are some hybrid anchor-journalists. They look at the big issues within the newscast, ensuring that each show is moving forward and has the newest information. They compare and contrast shows to make sure they don't say anything contradicting. They're also responsible for any on-set interviews or "phoners" – interviews via phone – with officials or experts weighing in on any given story.
Face Value
Reporters typically get a 15-second live intro, a 10-second taped standup or bridge, and a 15-second live tag per show. If their package is 90 seconds long, reporters get 40 seconds of face time and two minutes of voice time each show. Anchors are required to read all stories in between the reporter packages, read all the teases, and do all the tosses in between news characters, such as sports and weather.
They are on camera for about a third of the show and viewers at home hear their voices for typically half the show. For this reason, anchors are more well-known in households than reporters. They tend to stick with their stations longer and achieve name recognition. They should be adept at camera angles and ad-libs. They are also paid better than most reporters and usually have more experience.
The difference between a newscaster and a news anchor may be subtle, as they often have mostly overlapping duties, but the definition of a newscaster is someone who reads the news. They may be less of the "star of the show" if both positions exist on a network.
FAQs
The salaries of news reporters are lower than those of news anchors and vary widely. In February 2023, PayScale.com reported that news reporters earned a median wage of $48,401 a year.
What are the six questions a reporter asks? ›
Journalists are likely to ask six questions in a crisis (who, what, where, when, why, how) that relate to three broad topics: (1) what happened; (2) What caused it to happen; (3) What does it mean.
What is the difference between anchoring and reporting? ›
When viewers tune into TV newscasts, the two main on-air talents are reporters and anchors. Reporters collect information and write stories, while anchors are the presenters or “faces” of newsrooms. Thus, the role is highly competitive, and reserved for those considered communication leaders, with likability a plus.
What is the role of anchor and reporter? ›
As a news anchor, you will work closely with reporters and other journalists to gather facts, broadcast news reports, interview guests, and cover breaking stories when necessary. You will cover local, state, national, and international events, and also stay well-informed on breaking news developments.
Who is the highest-paid female anchor on Fox News? ›
Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, and Tucker Carlson are the three highest-paid anchors at Fox News. Hannity reportedly makes $45 million per year, Ingraham makes $18 million per year, and Carlson makes $35 million per year. These salaries are significantly higher than the salaries of most other Fox News anchors.
Who is the highest-paid news anchor on TV? ›
1. Sean Hannity. Sean Hannity, a stalwart at Fox News as host of "The Sean Hannity Show," earns an estimated $45 million at the broadcast network and has an estimated net worth of $250 million. Born in New York City, Hannity's broadcast career dates back to the early 1980s in Alabama and Georgia.
What are the 5Ws in investigative journalism? ›
In investigative writing and research, the five Ws are used to gather information about a story or subject matter. In fact, most writers don't consider a story to be complete unless all five of the Ws have been addressed. The five Ws are who, what, when, where, and why.
Which six words are the most important for a journalist? ›
The Journalistic Six - Who What When Where Why How.
What are the W questions in journalism? ›
One of the best practices for writers is to follow "The 5Ws" guideline, by investigating the Who, What, Where, When and Why of a story. If you can't identify what makes your story unique and interesting, chances are nobody else will either.
Do news anchors read off of a teleprompter? ›
Do newscasters read from teleprompters？ Yes, it's true to say that most newscasters use a teleprompter as a vital helper. Official or more formal TV stations that cater to a larger audience group usually have a teleprompter, so the newscaster is sometimes called a news reader.
News anchors specialize in presenting the news to the listening or viewing public. They report the facts and may sometimes be asked to provide editorial commentary. They may write their own scripts or rely on the station's writing team to write the script, which they then read over the TelePrompTer.
How much do the top news anchors make? ›
News Anchor Salary in California
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay |
|---|
| Top Earners | $57,733 | $4,811 |
| 75th Percentile | $54,800 | $4,566 |
| Average | $47,512 | $3,959 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,500 | $3,291 |
A reporter is a journalist who uses investigation and research to gather the details of a story or event, and deliver the facts to the public through a medium or platform. The topics reporters could research include local and global events and often involve field investigation.
Why are news reporters called anchors? ›
The anchor term then became commonly used by 1952 to describe the most prominent member of a panel of reporters or experts. The term "anchorman" also was used to describe Walter Cronkite's role at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, where he coordinated switches between news points and reporters.
What is the primary role of a reporter? ›
Journalist vs News Reporter
They are responsible for gathering, analyzing, and disseminating news stories, events, and issues to the public through various media platforms, including newspapers, magazines, television, radio, and online channels.
What is the highest paying job in journalism? ›
The highest paying job that journalism graduates can get hired in would likely be positions in senior management, such as:
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
- Chief Operating Officer (COO)
- Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
- Publisher.
- Editor-in-Chief.
- Media/Entertainment Executive.
- Advertising/Marketing Executive.
Unlike anchors, reporters investigate the details of news stories before including them in the television broadcasts. After learning of a topic, such as a historical weather event or a record-breaking accomplishment, the reporter retrieves direct quotes from eyewitnesses and documents parts of the story on camera.
Why do news anchors make so much money? ›
Often, the salary a newscaster earns is based upon the the size of the market the newscaster works in, paired with experience and popularity, which is tabulated via television ratings. As such, a news anchor salary or reporter salary is generally determined by market size and corresponding advertising rates.
How much do news anchors get paid local news? ›
How much does a Local News Anchor make in California? As of Apr 19, 2024, the average annual pay for a Local News Anchor in California is $48,096 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $23.12 an hour. This is the equivalent of $924/week or $4,008/month.
