It takes two (apparently)
I'm a little puzzled over Seven News' decision to add another anchor
How many people does it take to read a one-hour (minus commercials and video packages) news bulletin?
Apparently, according to Channel 7, it’s two. Or four if you count the sport and weather presenters.
After a few months of Max Futcher going solo, since the sacking of Sharyn Ghidella — who, at a speed that surprised nearly everyone (including herself, I suspect), popped up within a month to front newly re-localised 10 News First — Sevens News as appointed a new cohost in Sarah Greenhalgh.
The announcement notes: “Born and bred in the River City, the accomplished broadcaster makes her triumphant return home after five years travelling the world as a foreign correspondent and investigative reporter for the Seven Network.”
It’s accompanied by a video in which Futcher seems to be trying a little too hard to convince us that he and Greenhalgh are “mates” who go back a long way. Presumably somebody at Seven thinks it’s important that we believe they like each other. (I have no reason to think otherwise, it just seems forced.)
Congratulations to Greenhalgh; I’m sure she’ll do a great job and I wish her every success.*
However, I do wonder whether, at a time when media budgets are being tightened and newsroom jobs are being cut, it’s really necessary to have two people taking turns reading the autocue when it can be competently and efficiently done by one.
It seems to me that the real need is for reporters and producers.
Seven, of course, isn’t alone in thinking this way. Nine has long had a double act at 6pm, as do many TV stations around the country and the world.
Perhaps there is some research out there that says audiences respond better to two people. Twice the chance that we, as audience members, will like the show?
More likely, the thinking is that having two readers allows for a seamless transition if one of them retires or leaves for some other reason. Surely the same effect could be achieved by giving some promotional prominence to weekend and fill-in anchors.
The two- (or more)-for-one phenomenon is evident in other media. In the 1950s, 60s and 70s, most radio shows were helmed by one person, or one prominent voice with occasional assistance from a comedy character (sometimes voiced by the announcer themselves).
The coming of the “zoo” format — think the Morning Crew on B105 — in the 80s changed that. That’s essentially what we have now in the Breakfast and Drive shifts on commercial music radio.
However, some of the most successful news and talk shows have been, and still are, hosted by just one person.
I can think of a show now hosted by two people that attracts about half the audience it received when it was helmed by one.
P.S.
*In The Sunday Mail, Greenhalgh, 34, notes that she is pregnant and …
… she made it clear when she took the job that she would be taking maternity leave from mid-February.
“I’ll come back when it suits everybody, including bub,” she said.
Good on her, and good on Seven for promoting her with this understanding.
Meanwhile, further to news that Susie O’Neill is leaving the Nova 1069 Breakfast show, comedian and I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here 2020 13th-placegetter Nikki Osbourne is reported to be joining Ash Bradnam and David Lutteral on air next year. Former Channel 7 presenter Kendall Gilding has also been linked to the gig.
Meanwhile, O’Neill has expressed interest in doing a podcast. One industry insider suggests a version of the Smarter than Susie segment might be the go.
And, finally, congratulations to the winners of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia Awards, which was held on the Gold Coast over the weekend. These stations play an increasingly important role in the media landscape, often without the credit they deserve.
I’m guessing they want a female to balance the male for audience appeal? Two newsreaders always seems to be one male, one woman. Those morning and afternoon commercial radio ‘crews’ are usually three and I’ve noticed they’re always two men and one woman, never the other way around as far as I know