PRESENTING AS A CAREER
Being a TV presenter is a lot harder than it looks. It is not just about talking to the camera. A presenter is the front end of a production team. It is their job to deliver the team's work in an entertaining and informed way.
But it's not only about that.
In RTÉ Young Peoples Programmes, presenters are also responsible for generating ideas for every programme, researching programme items in advance, editing packages, filming on location, writing scripts and then presenting the whole package on screen.
The best presenters make it look easy. Their seamless presentation ensures that the work behind the scenes pays off on air.
A presenter needs to have a calm, confident delivery. Autocue is not always a given, so presenters must be able to remember lines, improvise on the spot and react to instructions from the producer or director given through an earpiece. All this, and talk naturally to the viewers and guests.
SKILLS
Ask yourself this: Is performing something that interests you? Can you assimilate information quickly? Can you present your point of view succinctly? Can you ad lib in an engaging fashion?
Here is a checklist of skills for a presenter. You should:
*Be confident and outgoing
*Have lots of ideas for programmes
*Be able to take the highs and the lows
*Have an ability to engage with an audience
*Have excellent communication and presentation skills
*Be able to respond quickly changing environments or situations
*Be able to memorise facts
*Be able to ad-lib
*Have good research and interviewing skills
*Have an inquisitive nature
*Have a broad range of interests
*Be able to stay calm under pressure
*Be able to work on your feet
*Be able work within a production team
*Be creative and flexible
*Be willing to learn and adapt
Above all having the right personality and a good frame of reference is essential.
All kinds of life experience are relevant in job like presenting.
Presenters come from a broad range of backgrounds including journalism, research, production, acting, modelling or roles outside of the broadcasting industry.
Journalism training is useful. This could be working on local, student or community radio, local or student newspapers or writing press releases for your school or community groups.
Journalistic skills are helpful because presenters work as researchers, need good interviewing skills and need to identify a good story. Presenters also write their own scripts so writing skills are important.
A sound knowledge of a specialist field - such as gardening, history, archaeology, cookery, sport and so on - is very useful.
