News Anchors
In the United States and Canada, news anchors (also known as "anchorpersons", "anchormen", or "anchorwomen") present material prepared for a news program and, at times, must improvise commentary for live presentation. Many anchors are also involved in writing and/or editing the news for their programs.
The term "anchor man" was used to describe Walter Cronkite's role at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. The widespread North American factoid that news anchors were called cronkiters in Swedish has been debunked by linguist Ben Zimmer. Zimmer (and others) also note that the term "anchor" was in common use in 1952 to describe the most prominent member of a panel of reporters or experts. For example, in 1948 "anchor man" was used in the game show "Who Said That?" to refer to John Cameron Swayze, who was a permanent panel member of the show, in what may be the first usage of this term on television. In track and field, the anchor position is the (usually fastest) person running the critical last leg in a relay race. In the original format of Meet The Press, Lawrence E. Spivak, who served as the only permanent member of a panel of four reporters, anchored the panel. Later, the term was applied to hosts of special events coverage and, still later, news presenters.
Read more about this topic: News Presenter
Famous quotes containing the words news and/or anchors:
“How can one explain all the time and thought that goes into raising a child, all the opportunities for mistakes, all the chances to recover and try again? How does one break the news that nothing permanent can be formed in an instant—children are not weaned, potty trained, taught manners, introduced to civilization in one or two tries—as everyone imagined.”
—Mary Kay Blakely (20th century)
“The primary function of myth is to validate an existing social order. Myth enshrines conservative social values, raising tradition on a pedestal. It expresses and confirms, rather than explains or questions, the sources of cultural attitudes and values.... Because myth anchors the present in the past it is a sociological charter for a future society which is an exact replica of the present one.”
—Ann Oakley (b. 1944)