Having the authority to tell an entire nation what's important day in and day out sounds like an appealing position. But being a professional news caster requires a lot of hard work and competition…and more than a little luck or help from social connections.
Career requirements for newscasters are not set in stone. Most news casters today will have a college degree from a well-respected university. A course of study in a relevant field like communications or journalism will help you to land your first internships. From then on, it's your work experience that is likely to be the most important part of getting the on-air position.
Though it's not an official career requirement for news casters, many television anchors begin their careers as beat reporters, only working their way up after years of covering important stories for large audiences. Getting the right assignments as a reporter and up-and-coming newscaster may rely on how you can set yourself apart. Advanced degrees, including a master's degree in Communications, can help. Working your way up through smaller stations, where opportunities may be easier to come by, often provides the experience you will need to get chosen to read the news in front of the camera.
News casters must have a pleasant on-air persona as well as a good grounding in current events and history. One of the most important career requirements for news casters is the ability to work well under pressure, with little preparation. News casters must work long, irregular hours and be prepared to speak authoritatively about issues that they know little about. Voice lessons and professional style guidance can be extremely useful for aspiring newscasters.
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