Thursday, December 4, 2008
Is the older-than-50 TV news anchor a relic?
Back when I was a youngster, some of the most respected TV news anchors were the seasoned veterans -- trustworthy types like Walter Cronkite and John Chancellor. But is the era of the older-than-50 TV news anchor over now? And if it is, do you think it's going to have any kind of impact on the audience's perception of the reliability of TV news anchors?
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4 comments:
As far as "trust worthy" news anchors go, I truly think that age should not be a determinant on what is being reported. The variety of news sources such as MSNBC, Fox News, CNN, and other main news stations carry anchors under the age of 50. People seek the news for what it is, and not necessarily who covers it. Although there may be bias in the media with the left and right wing political coverage, people are being informed by mature ages of anchors. The one thing that combats this theory about older than 50 TV news anchors, is our most recently elected President Barack Obama with an age of 47 years old. I think that with the new generation of people, the diversity and youth appeal has been applied to most news stations currently broadcasting. The youth of our nation is the future, and younger adults are becoming more aware of what the concerns of this country are.
I don't really think that age should be something that is a variable on whether a new anchor is trustworthy. I don't think, and I personally do not, cover news because of the anchor that is saying it. I am one of those individuals who believes that one news station is going to be more bias than the next, so I watch news based on what the station reputation has on if they are seen as more conservative or liberal.
This is a very interesting and profound question that myself and my colleagues often ask ourselves. Our perception of the world and people is constantly influenced by the changes in societal norms that occur around us everyday. In your case, it was the fifty-somethings that people trusted and confided in as it pertains to news and media. With the change in our society geared more towards attraction and this idea of unattainable beauty- so too must the media and ways they portray or sell stories, facts, figures, products, etc . must conform to the changes. Sex sells. Age does not, age is associated with death, and no one wants to feel obsolete.
- VICTORIA A WATSON
Age should not play a role in the work force and especially in news anchoring. The creditability of the news anchor comes from their delivery and professionalism not to their physical appeals. The news needs to be delivered in a way that informs audience not entertains. An older anchor gives the needed creditability to value his opinion and the news that is being delivers. Political, local and national news can be better delivered by a person who has a grasp on the issues and knows the importance, and this comes with age. Older than fifty news anchors should be considered influential and a necessity to delivering news.
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