What makes a good news anchor? UNISET provides some perspective on the essential qualities of news talent.
What Are the Characteristics of a Good Reporter?
You’re thinking of dedicating your professional life to television news? If so, you’re undertaking a noble mission, as journalists are one of the true foundations of open and free societies. It’s a difficult job, but one that’s incredibly fulfilling if you do it for the right reasons, report on stories the right way, and pursue the right goals. UNISET has been manufacturing sets and studios for television journalists for more than 40 years, and during our time we’ve come to know some of the best journalists in the industry. It’s given us a perspective that allows us to layout some qualities as to what makes a good reporter. We’re going to list five of them below.
1. Intellectual Curiosity
What makes a good reporter, above all else, is a natural intellectual curiosity. You’ll need to really want to get to the bottom of every story, to find out the answers to the following questions:
- Who?
- What?
- Where?
- When?
- Why?
- How?
Those are the questions your viewers are going to have, so you need to work as hard as necessary to find those answers.
2. Passion
Another aspect to what makes a good reporter is passion. Your audience is smart, and they will understand quickly if someone they’re watching is merely going through the motions of a particular story. Let’s face it: Not every story is going to be groundbreaking or intensely interesting to you, but what makes a good reporter good is his or her ability to deliver that passion every time there is any type of story to report. Your audience will notice that as well and respond positively.
3. Objectivity
Unfortunately, we live in a world where everything is seemingly polarized, and every message is viewed through the prism of perceived bias. What makes a good journalist especially good in this difficult environment is the ability to report the news and present stories in an objective manner. That’s easier said than done, and it’s likely viewers will still believe that there’s bias in the story, but do your best and continue to report things as they occur.
4. Communication Skills
This may seem rather elementary, but one of the foundational characteristics of journalism overall is the ability to communicate with others. That may seem overly obvious, but if you ask any experienced journalist about communication, that person will likely tell you that you’re going to talk to people from all walks of life and from all different backgrounds, so you need to be ready to handle that.
5. Tech Savvy
What makes a good reporter very good in today’s world relates to his or her ability to handle technology. That doesn’t just mean the camera and setting up equipment for a story, but these days it also means the ability to communicate online, by way of social media channels and the like. It’s part of the job now, and it’s important to be able to do that correctly.
Overall, what makes a good reporter good involves quite a few qualities and characteristics. If you have that innate drive, we wish you the best. If you ever need a set or a broadcast desk for any of your work, please contact UNISET for help.