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Originally Posted by DeltAlum
Honestly, it depends on the day. Most of the network anchors I've met and worked with do write their own copy -- or at least edit it -- if they're not traveling or whatever.
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To me, this is the same as saying "very little actual journalism, although they do edit other peoples' work to fit their own on-air style."
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Originally Posted by DeltAlum
If you are asking if they check the details of all of the stories, I'd say that would be in impossible task, because many of those stories are fed in at the last minute. A news organization, whether broadcast or print, has to put some amount of trust in its reporters. That's what they do.
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Agreed, but again - the trust is in someone 'behind the scenes' . . .
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Originally Posted by DeltAlum
Most of them (the anchors) have an almost insatiable curiousity and encyclopedic memory. You see that during the "breaking news" times like 9/11 or earthquakes or other disasters. I can't think of any of the network (I'm talking broadcast, not cable or local) anchors who don't have extensive reporting and writing credentials prior to landing in the anchor chair.
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I'm not impressed by this, because that's their job.
My entire contention here is that network news anchors are very impressive at what they do - but what they do is far removed from journalism, and much closer to strict entertainment (such as acting, directing, etc - all arts in their own right).
Put another way - we don't laud the guys who write Cliff's Notes for being great writers, even though they perform a very useful service and we do laud their success.
I'm not claiming network anchors aren't intelligent, driven, etc - obviously there are so few of them in the world that it is an elite self-selecting group. I respect that a ton - just as I can respect the Cliff's Notes empire for recognizing a niche, capitalizing and driving a truckload of money home.
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Originally Posted by DeltAlum
You just can't imagine how difficult it is to hold things together while still communicating effectively in those situations.
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I also can't imagine how difficult it is to invent a prosthetic vein, but someone did it. I feel like one is more important than the other.