Millions of South Africans switch on their televisions every evening to hear about the day's most noteworthy events. The anchors that deliver the news on screen are dressed to impress and read their stories perfectly. But what happens before and after the programme, and what goes into it?
Daniëlla van Heerden is a News Anchor at eNuus, South Africa's leading Afrikaans television news outlet. She is a highly respected individual in the journalism field, with multiple accolades to her name.
Having been in the broadcast news industry since 2010, it's safe to say that she knows the ins and outs of broadcast news.
media update's Joreke Kleynhans got insight from van Heerden about what goes on behind the scenes in the newsroom.
What does a day in the life of a TV news anchor look like?
This is not the case in all newsrooms, but eNuus anchors do not only come in to read the news — we are, for the most part, permanent employees who also assist the team with news writing, desk editing and sourcing stories.
I usually arrive at the office around noon to attend our team meeting, where we go through the news diary. Work is then assigned to the different desk team members. I then have time until around 17:00 to write, translate, source and edit visuals, call contacts and do voiceovers.
Then I start to get ready for the bulletin: getting dressed, hair and make-up. At 18:30, I go to the studio for a rehearsal and at 19:00, we are live!
What skills would you say are essential for aspiring news anchors to refine?
Time management, writing and editing, communicating with team members, language proficiency, critical thinking, quick decision-making and you have to be tech-savvy.
How does one balance empathy and neutrality when delivering sensitive stories?
It really does depend on the story. When I have to read a news insert about, for instance, children who died due to poisoning or people who were killed in a horrific accident, I lean more towards the empathetic side, and my voice is not as "neutral" as when I am delivering a political story.
I think viewers appreciate that we are humans, not robots.
The moment the story is more focussed on general or "hard" news and less on emotive human stories, the more neutral my tone and presentation.
How do you ensure that news stories are delivered naturally even when reading from a teleprompter?
Preparation and practice, practice, practice.
Also, to really think about what you are saying — and the skill of being able to read "ahead" of what you are voicing.
How important is collaboration in the newsroom? How closely do journalists, editors and producers work together?
It's often a challenge, but it is essential.
Challenging, as journalists are most often out in the field, and we don't want to "bother them" from the desk all the time to ensure they get the work done.
However, when there are regular check-ins from all sides, everyone knows how the stories are progressing and can make decisions accordingly.
What is the most unexpected part of being a TV news anchor that the general public doesn't know about?
In eNuus's case, it is the fact that we are actually closely involved with putting the bulletin together. Most people think we pitch up in the late afternoon and go straight to make-up.
What are some of the greatest challenges faced by TV news in the age of generative AI?
Newsrooms and / or our audiences can be fooled by AI challenges like deepfakes.
With the rise of fake news and disinformation, what impact do you believe TV news has on shaping public opinion and fostering trust with audiences?
We have a great responsibility to prove we are still the trusted source to turn to when audiences are not sure about what is real and what is fake.
How do you think TV news will change in the future?
It will move even more towards an on-demand service, with a strong focus on streaming.
However, I believe that trustworthy journalists and storytelling will always have a place.
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*Image courtesy of Canva