What are news anchors scribbling?

March 24, 2005 6:57 PM

What are news anchors scribbing down on their pieces of paper at the end of a broadcast?
posted by Stan Chin to Media & Arts (15 answers total)

Possibly nothing of any real importance--maybe just looking active for the camera. For a time Peter Jennings used to pick up his phone and make a call immediately after his broadcast (as the credits were rolling). In an interview he said he was usually calling his family to tell them he would be home soon!
posted by handful of rain at 7:01 PM on March 24, 2005

They're blogging. It's the new journalism.

Seriously, I've always figured it was notes to edit or append to their stories, for the ones who write their own broadcasts. Otherwise it's just something they're told to do to look busy?
posted by brownpau at 7:04 PM on March 24, 2005

This is what they do on the fake news.
posted by jmgorman at 7:22 PM on March 24, 2005

It's a tradition thing -- it's meant to look like they're getting right back to work as soon as they're done reading off the TelePrompTer.
posted by me3dia at 7:34 PM on March 24, 2005

Best answer: I've worked in enough TV studios to tell you... they're not writing anything of real importance. It's a fidget, basically, until they're off cam and can start yelling at their director and producer, and possibly some of the floor crew, about what went wrong during the show. (Most of which you probably never saw.)
posted by BoringPostcards at 7:41 PM on March 24, 2005

The talk show version of this question is when the host and guest turn to teach other and talk as the director cuts to a wide shot before going to a commercial.

Somebody once recalled being in that situation with Dick Cavett when Cavett had a talk show. "I've always wondered what you and the guest are talking about," he said. "Pretty much this," Cavett replied.
posted by pmurray63 at 7:53 PM on March 24, 2005

i always thought they were making a list to order food ...
posted by pyramid termite at 10:26 PM on March 24, 2005

I think that it's a timing mechanism. Dead Air is death; the idea is to keep that ball in the air. And whatever you do, don't let them them look behind the curtain.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 1:16 AM on March 25, 2005

jmgorman: "This is what they do on the fake news."

Is that really mathowie, or is it Ed Helms from the Daily Show?
posted by schyler523 at 1:56 AM on March 25, 2005

*slaps forehead.
posted by schyler523 at 1:59 AM on March 25, 2005

I was told once that, during the course of the broadcast, news anchors often glance down at the papers on their desks not because they need to read what's there (that's what the teleprompter is for, after all), but because, if they look directly into the camera for the entire broadcast, it makes viewers uncomfortable. If there's any truth in this, then perhaps they scribble for a similar reason; their "conversation" with the viewer is over and the rules of body language (which were probably written before the advent of television) dictate that they break eye contact. So rather than, you know, staring down at the floor or putting their hands over their eyes, they simply fake turning their attention to something else.
posted by Clay201 at 3:06 AM on March 25, 2005

but wouldn't it be cool if they did put their hands over their eyes?
someone post this url to jon snow.
posted by andrew cooke at 6:17 AM on March 25, 2005

I fondly remember the mighty Chris Morris on "The Day Today". He ended one "News" broadcast by tying off and shooting up as the lights dimmed and the camera pulled back...

I love that man.
posted by Decani at 6:30 AM on March 25, 2005

My first guess is that they are writing down notes about things they flubbed or wanted to do differently or better next time. But I'm sure "nothing" is just as likely.
posted by autojack at 2:47 PM on March 25, 2005

Most news anchors think they are perfect (even the nice ones). So, they're not writing down their flubs, or anything human and humble like that. Either they are writing down nothing at all, or they are writing down snide comments to their co-anchor about the producer or technical staff. Since they make their living wearing microphones, they are usually acutely aware of the fact that anything they say while the microphone is nearby might be heard. Just because the home audience can't hear them, the control room staff can (and does) like to listen in.
posted by MrZero at 7:03 PM on March 25, 2005