Typical visual cues:
- News anchor sits behind a desk
- Lower body is hidden
- Often only the upper body is visible
- Anchor reads from notes
- Anchor reads from teleprompter (eyes drift right to left)
Content cues:
- Factual, serious
- Competent, current, independent
- Short, concise
- Local, regional, national news
- News from Europe and around the world
- Special bulletins for spectacular events, sensations
- Live cross to the scene with reporter on location
Sections:
- General, Politics, Sport, Weather, Lottery numbers
Mishaps:
- Slips of the tongue, blanks, hesitations, coughs
- A missing page → goof, anchor confused
Technical mishaps:
- No video clip, wrong video clip, no sound, no picture, no link to the "reporter on location".
Anchor archetypes:
The Charming Weatherman (e.g. Jörg Kachelmann)
- Serious with a cheerful undertone
- Subtle humour
The Stone-Faced Newsman (e.g. Ulrich Wickert)
- Serious
- Face almost rigid and motionless
- Wide thin mouth
The Retired Anchor (e.g. Dagmar Bergmann)
- Off duty :o)
The Concerned Voice (e.g. Ulrich Meyer)
- Mostly looks very serious and concerned
- Sentences clipped
The Bubbly One (e.g. Maxi Beaver)
- Cheerful, easy-going