ABSTRACT
One of the most commonly asked questions is: ‘Do I need journalism qualifications to become a newsreader?’ Alex Gerlis, former Assistant Editor for the BBC One O’clock News, Six O’clock News and Head of Training at the BBC College of Journalism, confirms:
No question about it: newsreaders need to be able to write stories, frame questions, conduct interviews, handle live television and deal with breaking news. Only trained journalists are capable of this as only they have the skills to handle story finding and storytelling, along with all the ethical and legal dimensions of journalism. It is a serious mistake to assume that TV news presenting is about looking good and an ability to read the Autocue.
