TV News anchors and pens

[Buffy]

I would like to know why TV News anchors always have a small stack of papers in front of them on their desk, and are holding a pen in their hand, when all they are doing is reading right off of a teleprompter screen. What is the need for papers, or especially pens? And, every now and then, they will use the pen to cross something off of a paper, or shuffle the papers. What, exactly, are they crossing out, and is that done only for 'show'-- to look businesslike for the viewers? This has always made me curious. Many thanks!!!

[archbishop]

The teleprompter might break down and they would look pretty stupid if they had no news to impart and also there would be links to outside reports listed and timings.

[Buffy]

Yes dearie, but there is more than one teleprompter displaying the same text, for them to look at. That is why they are suddenly able to look into a different camera, for a little variety and different camera angle, and keep right on reading. So, if one teleprompter were to break, they could just read off of the other one. It isn't likely they would both break at the same time! Or, if the electricity / power went out, then there wouldn't be any lights either, for them to see their papers to read off of!!!!

[Buffy]

Oh, and the anchors also wear tiny earpieces so that their producers can tell them how much time is left, and they can hear it... so they shouldn't need to look at a paper for that, right?

[andy hughes]

In fact, the auto-cues are linked, so if one goes, down, they all go down - hence the need for a printed script as back-up. The earpiece is linked to the gallery, but gallery sound playes in all ear pieces to everyone, so everyone hears everyone's instructions, and it's easy for the newsreader to miss a cue spoecifically for them, so printed timings are a further back up.

[Buffy]

Hi guys, thanks very much for your input! If the teleprompters / auto-cues are indeed linked as Andy said, then it would make sense to have printed scripts on hand. Andy, I'd give you 2 + 3/4 stars. I'm still unsure about what is said and heard over the earpieces. (Also, what does the "gallery" refer to, exactly?) If there is only one anchor, then wouldn't the messages be only to him/her? What is this "everyone" that Andy talks about??! Also, if the anchor missed a cue, wouldn't the producer yell the anchor's name really loudly into his/her ear? That would prevent the anchor from missing any cues, more easily than his/her having to look up a timing on a piece of paper. Or, the cameraperson could flag their arms at the anchor!

[darth vader]

The earpiece is generally for a few short commands or prompts - being able to speak AND listen at the same time is quite hard so commands are limited. Basically the newsreader will only be prompted if he/she is going too slow/too fast as they need to get the timing perfect to finish in the alloted time - if an interview is taking too long the newsreader will be told to wrap it up, for example. Also, the news doesn't stop happening while the programme is on, and so newsflashes may come in, or updates on earlier stories, all of which the newsreader has to know about.

[Buffy]

Thank you for your answer, Darth Vader!!! 2 + 5/6 stars for you!

[paulz]

Also during taped interviews, weather, commercials etc the running order is often re-vamped for breaking news etc [pens to write on scripts]. Satellite links often break at the vital "live" moment and the autocue [which is computerised - we all know they're not infallible] doesn't always keep up. Having visited several news rooms, including the gallery during "on Air;" it is not a haven of tranquility. The noise is incessant and there is at least one person constantly counting down to the next link, length of the video clip etc they certainly earn their money

[Buffy]

Thank you for your contribution, paulz!! That all makes very good sense.