Newsreader

Henry Budd

Deborah Knight first delivered the news on her bike before school. Now she delivers it from behind the Channel 10 news desk. There is more to presenting the news than simply reading the autocue, Knight says.

“I’m in the make-up chair at 9.30am and at my desk at 10.30am to write and edit our news updates,” Knight says.

Production for the 5pm bulletin begins at 3.30pm in the afternoon.

“We edit the news story introductions as they are ready,” she says. “Sometimes very close to deadline. I sit at the news set about 10 minutes before we go to air.”

Knight studied journalism at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst and worked in country radio before landing a job on ABC’s Landline.

During her 15-year career she has reported on some of the biggest stories of our time and was in the US when the September 11 terrorist attacks occurred.

In early 2006 Knight became the full-time anchor for the 5pm news. Being a news reporter is the best training for that role she says.

“You need to understand the story,” Knight says.

How to be a newsreader

Qualification: Newsreaders usually begin their careers as reporters. Several universities, including Charles Sturt, UTS and the University of Sydney, offer journalism degrees. Some news organisations also offer on-the-job training in the form of  cadetships and traineeships.
Course: Charles Sturt University offers a three-year Bachelor of Arts (Communication – Journalism) at its Bathurst campus.

The degree covers the gathering, handling and dissemination of information for the mass media and other organisations involved in professional communication in the areas of print, broadcast and online journalism, CSU’s website says.

Students choose to specialise in either broadcast (radio and television) or print journalism. Subject areas include news writing, digital media, media audiences, communication law and news production. Students are also required to complete a four-week internship to gain practical industry experience.

Assumed knowledge: Prospective students are required to answer a questionnaire and submit two 400-word essays as part of their applications.

Cost: $5088 per year, government supported.

From the inside: Channel 10 newsreader Deborah Knight says much work goes into making reading the news look easy. “Be prepared to work hard and polish your skills as a producer or an on-the-road reporter or a chief of staff,” she says. “Those skills are integral to becoming a good newsreader.”