Solid improvisation and teleprompter reading are essential for news anchors. Below are targeted exercises, strategies, and tips to help you master these skills.
1. Improving Improvisation Skills
Why It’s Important:
Improvisation allows anchors to handle unscripted moments, breaking news, technical issues, or live events with confidence and professionalism.
A. Exercises to Practice Improvisation
1. Scenario-Based Improvisation
Create situations you may encounter during a live broadcast.
Examples:
- Breaking News: The teleprompter fails during a serious segment.
- Unexpected Question: A guest says something controversial, and you must respond diplomatically.
- Live Event: The event you're reporting on suddenly changes direction (e.g., a parade delays due to weather).
How to Practice:
- Record yourself responding to these scenarios.
- Focus on maintaining a calm, composed tone while delivering facts.
- Use phrases like:
- “Here’s what we know so far…”
- “We’ll bring you updates as more information becomes available.”
2. 30-Second Summaries
Choose a news story and summarize it in 30 seconds without preparation.
Focus On:
- Sticking to the 5 Ws and H (Who, What, When, Where, Why, How).
- Avoiding filler words like “uh” or “um.”
3. Guest Interaction Drill
Roleplay with a partner who acts as a challenging guest.
Practice Scenarios:
- A guest avoids answering your question.
- Anchor response: “That’s an interesting point, but can you clarify how this relates to…?”
- A guest becomes emotional or defensive.
- Anchor response: “I understand this is a sensitive topic. Let’s focus on…”
4. Word Association Game
Play a word association game to boost quick thinking.
How to Play:
- Have someone say a word (e.g., "community"), and you must immediately relate it to a short sentence or news story.
- Example: "Community? Today, local volunteers organized a food drive to support families in need."
B. Improvisation Phrases to Practice
Use these universal phrases to stay composed:
1. Transitioning to a new topic:
- “Let’s shift gears now to discuss…”
- “Turning our attention to another developing story…”
- Addressing technical issues:
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“It seems we’re experiencing a slight technical difficulty. We’ll bring you updates shortly.”
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Filling time during delays:
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“While we wait for more information, let’s revisit what we know so far…”
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Redirecting uncooperative guests:
- “That’s an important point. Let’s dive deeper into…”
C. Tools to Improve Improvisation
- Improv Games: Try "Yes, And…" to build quick thinking. Example: Start with one fact, and each person adds a new fact based on the previous one.
- Toastmasters International: Join for real-time public speaking practice.
2. Improving Teleprompter Reading Skills
Why It’s Important:
Teleprompter reading ensures smooth, professional delivery while maintaining eye contact with the audience.
A. Techniques for Teleprompter Mastery
1. Maintain Eye Contact
- Look into the teleprompter lens as if speaking directly to a person.
- Avoid darting your eyes back and forth—focus on gliding naturally through the script.
2. Practice Pacing
- Natural Speed: Read at 150–180 words per minute (adjust based on story tone).
- Use pauses to emphasize key points or let information sink in.
- Example: “Breaking news tonight… a massive storm is heading toward the East Coast.”
3. Emphasize Key Words
- Highlight or underline important words in your script to remind yourself to stress them.
- Example: “A 7.8 magnitude earthquake has struck, causing widespread devastation.”
4. Adapt to Script Changes
- Train yourself to scan ahead in case producers make real-time changes.
- Glance at the next sentence while finishing the current one to prepare for transitions.
5. Stay Calm with Mistakes
- If you stumble, pause briefly, and correct yourself smoothly.
- Example:
- Stumble: “The mayor… has declared a… state of emergency.”
- Correction: “The mayor has declared a state of emergency.”
B. Exercises for Teleprompter Reading
1. Shadow Practice
- Play a video of a professional news anchor reading a script.
- Mute the audio and try to replicate their delivery with your own script.
2. Speed Variance Drill
- Read the same script at different speeds (slow, normal, fast).
- Focus on staying clear and consistent at all paces.
3. Record and Review
- Use a teleprompter app like PromptSmart Pro or Teleprompter for Video to practice.
- Record yourself and evaluate:
- Eye contact.
- Pacing.
- Clarity.
4. Cold Reading Drill
- Take a script you’ve never read before and deliver it on the spot.
- Aim to sound natural and confident even with unfamiliar material.
5. Emotion Matching Exercise
- Read a script with different emotional tones:
- Serious: “A wildfire continues to rage in California, destroying homes.”
- Cheerful: “And in lighter news, a local dog has become an internet sensation!”
C. Common Teleprompter Challenges and Fixes
| Challenge | Solution |
|--------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Eye darting | Practice keeping your gaze steady on one line at a time. |
| Reading too fast/slow | Use teleprompter settings to adjust scroll speed and practice pacing. |
| Monotone delivery | Identify key words and phrases to emphasize for a more dynamic delivery. |
| Losing your place | Train your eyes to scan the next line while finishing the current sentence. |
D. Best Practices for Teleprompter Delivery
- Understand the Script: Read the script beforehand to familiarize yourself with its tone and details.
- Rehearse Transitions: Practice moving between segments or stories naturally.
- Relax Your Shoulders: Keep your posture confident yet relaxed to avoid appearing stiff.
E. Tools for Teleprompter Practice
- PromptSmart Pro: Voice-tracked scrolling ensures the teleprompter keeps pace with your delivery.
- Teleprompter Mirror: Use a physical teleprompter mirror for a realistic setup.
- YouTube Videos: Search for free news scripts or recordings to practice with real-world content.
3. Combining Skills for Live Performance
Drill: The "Breaking News Challenge"
- Choose a breaking news scenario (e.g., a storm, a political event).
- Write a short teleprompter script to begin the segment.
- Halfway through, practice improvising a continuation of the story as if live updates are arriving.
- Record your performance, review it, and identify areas for improvement in pacing, tone, and composure