DF
It makes for a more natural looking ending - if the presenter just sat there staring into the camera whilst the closing shot played it would look odd.
At the end of the news the presenters shuffle their papers, type on their keyboard or talk to each other. Why do they do this for show?
It makes for a more natural looking ending - if the presenter just sat there staring into the camera whilst the closing shot played it would look odd.
WA
Because the papers need to be put back in one pile and taken away from the desk, and the presenter at the end of bulletins are probably logging out as they are probably heading back to the newsroom.
At the end of the news the presenters shuffle their papers, type on their keyboard or talk to each other. Why do they do this for show?
Because the papers need to be put back in one pile and taken away from the desk, and the presenter at the end of bulletins are probably logging out as they are probably heading back to the newsroom.
VM
It makes for a more natural looking ending - if the presenter just sat there staring into the camera whilst the closing shot played it would look odd.
Of course, Trevor McDonald used to do this and nobody complained.
At the end of the news the presenters shuffle their papers, type on their keyboard or talk to each other. Why do they do this for show?
It makes for a more natural looking ending - if the presenter just sat there staring into the camera whilst the closing shot played it would look odd.
Of course, Trevor McDonald used to do this and nobody complained.
JW
I sometimes do it at the end of my working day as well. I don't actually think it's unique to newsreaders. I even sometimes put the cap back on my pen and put it back in my inside pocket, just in the way that John Humphrys always did at the end of the old Nine.
Then I always take one sip of water before heading home for the day.
Hang on! Am I a newsreader??????
Then I always take one sip of water before heading home for the day.
Hang on! Am I a newsreader??????
CR
I could just imagine you becoming the next BIG MOIRA.
I sometimes do it at the end of my working day as well. I don't actually think it's unique to newsreaders. I even sometimes put the cap back on my pen and put it back in my inside pocket, just in the way that John Humphrys always did at the end of the old Nine.
Then I always take one sip of water before heading home for the day.
Hang on! Am I a newsreader??????
Then I always take one sip of water before heading home for the day.
Hang on! Am I a newsreader??????
I could just imagine you becoming the next BIG MOIRA.
NJ
Neil Jones
Founding member
There is, or was last time this was discussed, a particular order in which to do the end-of-news bits, and hope you're "out" before you run out of things to do. Anybody remember what it was?
Shuffle papers, fiddle with pens and type on the keyboard are given, there were at least two other things as well, I'm sure for this mixture.
Shuffle papers, fiddle with pens and type on the keyboard are given, there were at least two other things as well, I'm sure for this mixture.
MS
There was an article written by an ex ITV Regional newsreader in the Times which said that, as the local news began and ended, when the lights were going off and on, the two presenters may have looked like they were having a jovial conversation, but they were actually trading insults at each other. He didn't last long in the job 
DA
Are there really written BBC guidelines on what to do? I assumed newsreaders just found something that felt natural and worked for them and stuck with it. I think the only thing that I've seen that doesn't work is looking in to the camera. That might be okay when everything is going to plan but if the director gets stuck on you then it just looks odd.
I've not seen anyone do any of these yet, so if there are any budding newsreaders on TV Forum please feel free to take one of these and make it in to your own signature sign off. You can thank me in your autobiography.
- scratch ones nose.
- stand up and walk out of shot.
- spit in to a bucket under the desk.
- kick off ones shoes.
- start shouting at someone off screen (real or imagined) and violently waving ones hands about.
Shuffle papers, fiddle with pens and type on the keyboard are given, there were at least two other things as well, I'm sure for this mixture.
Are there really written BBC guidelines on what to do? I assumed newsreaders just found something that felt natural and worked for them and stuck with it. I think the only thing that I've seen that doesn't work is looking in to the camera. That might be okay when everything is going to plan but if the director gets stuck on you then it just looks odd.
I've not seen anyone do any of these yet, so if there are any budding newsreaders on TV Forum please feel free to take one of these and make it in to your own signature sign off. You can thank me in your autobiography.
- scratch ones nose.
- stand up and walk out of shot.
- spit in to a bucket under the desk.
- kick off ones shoes.
- start shouting at someone off screen (real or imagined) and violently waving ones hands about.
JV
James Vertigan
Founding member
It's what they talk about once the mics go off that I want to know! 
BA
I'm sure somebody on here once said that often they'd say nothing so nothing inappropriate would get to air.
It's what they talk about once the mics go off that I want to know!
I'm sure somebody on here once said that often they'd say nothing so nothing inappropriate would get to air.
LJ
I'm sure somebody on here once said that often they'd say nothing so nothing inappropriate would get to air.
Trust me, inappropriate things are said from time to time!
It's what they talk about once the mics go off that I want to know!
I'm sure somebody on here once said that often they'd say nothing so nothing inappropriate would get to air.
Trust me, inappropriate things are said from time to time!