Features of Presenter as a Profession

There are many different roles of presenters for different types of programming, these roles include:Sports presenter: deliver the latest updates from many different sports around the world, and can be studio or venue based. Example: Chris Kamara, Jeff Stelling- Game show host: Hosts a game show in which contestants can win prizes from cars, computers, laptops or even money. Typically reads out the rules and announces each section of the show, as well as asking questions. Example: Bruce Forsyth, Les Dennis- News presenter: keep people up-to-date on the latest news around the world from political news to geographical news, and can either be in a studio or live from another location. Example: Charlie Stay, Riz Lateef- Radio presenter: are the hosts of shows broadcast over the radio, which can range from music stations to news stations. The presenter announces the schedule and hosts interview segments, amongst other things. Example: Chris Evans, Nick Grimshaw- Weather reporter: stand in front of a green screen and present information on latest weather updates from around the world. Example: Liam Dutton, Carol Kirkwood.

The style of a presenter changes depending on if they’re studio based or location based. Studio based presenters have to utilize more verbal techniques, such as breadth of vocabulary, to present the information as there is restricted area within the studio to move around and use as effective visual techniques. Location based presenters have to rely more on visual techniques to relay information, as body language is a good way of conveying what they environment is like where they are, as seen in the pictured example to the right. The presenter is trying to stabilize himself, showcasing how extreme the weather is in the area.

Presenters will vary is depending on the Target Audience they are presenting too. Different audiences appreciate different styles, for example, a younger audience would appreciate a faster pace of delivery because it’d be more exciting and engaging for them to get into, whereas a more elderly audience would appreciate a slower pace of delivery, for they’re not as easily able to keep up with faster information as they once would have been. Another thing that would change would be the dress and appearance, as younger audiences prefer more colourful and casual clothing, due to that being their style. A more elderly audience would appreciate a smart suit and tie to reflect on their more mature nature.

A good broadcast example that makes significant use of lots of verbal techniques is Top Gear. As you’ll see throughout the QR coded example, they make use of a variety of these techniques such as a fast pace of delivery to be more aimed at their “young/middle aged” (Cannons, 2010) audience. The fast pace of delivery makes sense, as the show is called Top Gear which implies it’s about fast cars, so the pace of delivery would accurately represent that. Jeremy Clarkson has a catchphrase that he says “And on that bombshell...” at the end of every show, which familiarises audiences with the show and presenter. Their tone of voice is joyful and comedic, which younger audiences appreciate and will laugh at but it is also sometimes serious. This tone gives them a sense of uniqueness which engages the audiences well. They all have a British accent which makes sense as they’re a British-produced show with a British audience on the BBC, which allows the audience to relate to the presenters as they’re of the same ethnic background. BBC World News also makes use of verbal techniques such as a breadth of vocabulary, using words such as activists and controversial (1:39), tone of voice which is very serious throughout to reflect the serious subjects, pace of delivery, which is slow and steady to allow the audience to absorb the information as it could be important, and appropriateness to audience where the subjects are relevant to the target audience of around 25-45 years old.

In order to produce engaging television, the presenter must be charismatic with good visual techniques. Bruce Forsyth used a lot of these to significant effect on ‘Play Your Card’s Right.’ Throughout the program, Bruce always has cheerful facial expressions (Example at 1:27). Facial expressions are important because they can set the mood for the program and the audience, as well as reflect how the audience themselves should react.

Dress and appearance is also important in presenting, as seen in Family Fortunes hosted by Les Dennis. Dennis always wears formal wear to represent the adultery audience that’ll be watching the show largely due to the car and cash prizes to be won, and this is important because casual clothing would make the prizes and purpose of the game show feel less important due to their generally perceived less serious nature. (Family Fortunes w/ Les Dennis)The Context of Organisation is important to consider when presenting. Family Fortunes was broadcast on ITV, whom of which had a target audience of around 16-34, and Les, at the time was 27, which meant he fit into the age bracket of the target audience. This is important because it allowed the intended audience to understand and relate to the presenter due to him being within the same age gap as them.

Movement and Physical gestures when presenting is also important, as seen by Bruce Forsyth mainly at the start of ‘Play Your Card’s Right.’ (0:57 for Example) Both are used as a way of attracting audience’s eyes, as human eyes typically look for movement, but more importantly, physical gestures and movement suggest that the presenter is being more open to the audience, instead of closing himself off with still hands and standing in the exact same spot.