Performing Arts Skills

Creating A Practice Routine For News Anchors




These routine will help news anchors improve skills like articulation, delivery, improvisation, and on-camera presence. This routine is flexible and can be tailored to suit your level of experience.

1. Define Your Practice Goals

Before starting, set clear objectives.

Examples of Goals:

  • Improve articulation and clarity.
  • Master teleprompter reading and pacing.
  • Develop improvisation skills for live reporting.
  • Build confidence in on-camera delivery.

2. Daily Practice Routine

Spend 30–60 minutes each day focused on specific skills. Here’s a suggested breakdown:

Warm-Up: 5–10 Minutes

  1. Breathing Exercises:
  2. Breathe deeply for 5 seconds, then exhale slowly. Repeat 5 times to control nerves and enhance vocal projection.
  3. Articulation Drills:
  4. Practice tongue twisters like:
    • “The sixth sick sheikh’s sixth sheep’s sick.”
    • “Red leather, yellow leather.”
  5. Focus on clear pronunciation.
  6. Pitch and Tone Control:
  7. Say “I’m excited to be here!” in various tones (serious, enthusiastic, calm) to experiment with vocal range.

Segment 1: Teleprompter Practice (10–15 Minutes)

Tools:

  • Use a teleprompter app like PromptSmart or Teleprompter for Video, or practice reading from a screen.

  • Start with Pre-Written Scripts:

  • Select scripts for different news types: breaking news, weather updates, human interest stories.

  • Focus on pacing (150–180 words per minute).

  • Record and Review:

  • Film yourself reading the script. Watch for:

    • Eye movement (avoid darting eyes).
    • Voice consistency.
    • Natural pauses for emphasis.

  • Gradually Increase Difficulty:

  • Begin with slow-paced stories, then move to fast-paced breaking news.
  • Adjust delivery based on tone (e.g., serious for breaking news, warm for human interest).

Segment 2: Improvisation (10–15 Minutes)

Objective:

Practice thinking on your feet for unscripted moments.

  1. Scenario-Based Improvisation:
  2. Example 1: "The teleprompter stops working mid-story."
    • Practice summarizing the story without a script.

  3. Example 2: "Breaking news interrupts your segment."

    • Practice transitioning smoothly:
    • “We’re just getting word of breaking news. Here’s what we know so far…”

  4. Current Events Summarization:

  5. Pick a trending topic and summarize it in 30 seconds.

  6. Focus on answering the “5 Ws and H” (Who, What, When, Where, Why, How).

  7. Question-and-Answer Drill:

  8. Have a partner ask you unexpected questions about a story.
  9. Practice responding clearly and concisely.

Segment 3: On-Camera Presence (10–15 Minutes)

Objective:

Develop confidence and charisma in front of the camera.

  1. Body Language Practice:
  2. Stand or sit straight with relaxed shoulders.

  3. Practice using subtle hand gestures to emphasize points.

  4. Facial Expressions:

  5. Deliver the same sentence with different emotions (serious, empathetic, cheerful).

  6. Example sentence: “The city council has announced new measures to address housing affordability.”

  7. Eye Contact and Connection:

  8. Record yourself speaking directly into the camera lens.
  9. Avoid shifting your gaze too much. Aim for a steady, conversational look.

Segment 4: Reviewing and Refining (5–10 Minutes)

Objective:

Analyze your performance and identify improvement areas.

  1. Watch Your Recordings:
  2. Focus on pacing, tone, and clarity.

  3. Note strengths and areas for improvement.

  4. Get Feedback:

  5. Share your recordings with a mentor, colleague, or coach for constructive criticism.

  6. Track Progress:

  7. Keep a journal of daily improvements (e.g., “Improved pacing,” “Worked on transitions”).

3. Weekly Practice Add-Ons

Incorporate these activities to build depth and variety into your routine.

A. Conduct Mock Interviews

  • Set up an interview scenario with a partner playing the guest.
  • Practice asking open-ended questions and steering the conversation if the guest goes off-topic.

B. Write and Deliver Scripts

  • Draft your own news scripts for a story, then deliver them on camera.
  • Practice for different tones (serious, neutral, cheerful).

C. Live Event Reporting Simulation

  • Choose a setting (e.g., park, busy street) and practice reporting as if you were live on location.
  • Focus on describing the surroundings and connecting with the audience.

D. Analyze Professional News Anchors

  • Watch experienced anchors and take notes on their:
  • Pacing and tone.
  • Body language and gestures.
  • Transitions and improvisation techniques.

4. Tracking Metrics

Monitor your progress with these key metrics:

| Metric | Target | How to Measure |
|-------------------------------|--------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
| Speaking Speed | 150–180 WPM | Time how long it takes to read a 180-word script. |
| Articulation and Clarity | 90%+ words understood by listeners | Record yourself and get feedback from peers/mentors. |
| Eye Contact Consistency | >90% focused on the lens | Watch recordings for eye contact breaks. |
| Improvisation Response Time | <5 seconds for unscripted responses | Practice handling curveballs and time your reactions. |

5. Example Practice Schedule

| Day | Activity | Time |
|-------------|-------------------------------------|------------|
| Monday | Teleprompter Reading + Warm-Ups | 30 minutes |
| Tuesday | Improvisation Drills + Recordings | 30 minutes |
| Wednesday | Mock Interviews + Script Writing | 45 minutes |
| Thursday | On-Camera Presence + Body Language | 30 minutes |
| Friday | Breaking News Simulation + Review | 30 minutes |
| Saturday | Live Event Reporting Practice | 1 hour |

6. Tools for Practice

  1. Teleprompter Apps:
  2. PromptSmart: Voice-tracked scrolling teleprompter.

  3. Teleprompter for Video: Integrates scripts with recording.

  4. Recording Equipment:

  5. Use your phone or a webcam with good lighting for practice sessions.

  6. Script Libraries:

  7. Use websites like News Script Archives or create your own scripts.

  8. Feedback Tools:

  9. Share recordings with mentors via Google Drive or Dropbox for critiques.
❤ If you liked this, consider supporting us by checking out Tiny Skills - 250+ Top Work & Personal Skills Made Easy