Earlier in the year, Jeremy Paxman claimed "any fool" could be a newsreader because (the role lacks) "any grandeur or skill" - and I couldn’t disagree more with this outdated view.
Firstly, "reader" isn’t entirely reflective of what’s involved - the best newsreaders don’t just read the words, they tell the stories. Perfecting the art of storytelling isn’t easy. Tone and delivery are crucial.
Furthermore, almost every broadcast journalist today is multi-skilled. Particularly in radio, you don’t just present, you also write copy, edit audio, drive the desk etc.
During the pre-election period (purdah), it also involves carefully crafting news related to the poll to ensure all candidates get their fair share of airtime.
There’s a lot more to it than you might think. Paxman’s view is a common misconception but particularly disappointing to hear from someone of his calibre.
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