Biggest Challenges Faced by a TV News Anchor at ABC7 News
Kristen, a TV News Anchor at ABC7 News KGO-TV, finds it a challenge "not letting the content," which can be distressing, affect presentation while also avoiding editorializing or letting personal beliefs cloud reporting, because the role requires presenting facts and context without bias. Furthermore, the financially challenged news industry necessitates creativity, often requiring the use of citizen-shot video due to budget constraints.
Objectivity, Emotional Regulation, Budget Constraints, Adaptability, Industry Trends
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Kristen Sze
TV News Anchor
ABC7 News KGO-TV
UC Berkeley
Political Science, American Studies
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Communication and Marketing
Immigrant
Video Highlights
1. Maintaining objectivity and not allowing personal emotions or beliefs to influence reporting is a significant challenge for a news anchor.
2. A key challenge is avoiding editorializing and presenting facts and context impartially, allowing the audience to form their own opinions.
3. The news industry faces financial challenges due to the rise of social media, requiring creativity and resourcefulness in news gathering and reporting.
Transcript
What is your biggest challenge in your role?
The biggest challenge in my role as news anchor is probably not letting the content, which are the things that happen in the world, affect my presentation. These events can be sad or maddening, and it's a challenge not to let them get to me.
It's also a challenge not to editorialise. Sometimes you're reading a story and you want to say, "What the heck?" but you can't. I also have to avoid letting my own emotions, experiences, or beliefs cloud my reporting.
I need to present the facts and context, allowing you to decide how you want to interpret the information and what you're going to do with it. That's up to you, and that's a challenge.
Another challenge is just working with less. This industry is financially challenged, especially since the advent of social media. Social media took away eyeballs and advertising dollars, which used to be concentrated with a few TV stations and newspapers.
Now, it's all scattered. Having to do just as much or more with less is challenging and does call for getting creative sometimes. Instead of sending out a reporter or photographer, we might have to ask a regular person who's there to shoot some video with their phone camera and send it in. You have to get a little creative. The budget challenges are real.