News anchor: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

A News anchor (US and CA) or Newsreader (UK and AU) is a person that works in television or radio that hosts a regular news program or provides occasional on air news updates.

News anchors generally read prepared scripts, but in emergencies, they often have to ad-lib commentary on the air. Many news anchors are also involved in writing and/or editing the news for their programs. Sometimes news anchors interview guests and moderate panels or discussions. Some provide commentary for the audience during parades and other events.

North American news anchors are frequently imitated and lampooned people who are hired for more their looks on TV than for their intelligence and journalist skills. This kind of character is the subject of long running gags on Saturday Night Live, SCTV, and the UK-produced The Muppet Show and the subject of sitcoms like The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Murphy Brown, and NewsRadio.

Notable American News Anchors

• David Brinkley (deceased), The Huntley-Brinkley Report (NBC)
• Tom Brokaw, NBC News
• Aaron Brown, CNN
• Connie Chung, CNN
• Walter Cronkite CBS News
• Sam Donaldson, ABC News
• Laurie Dhue, FOX News
• Bob Edwards, NPR News
• Brit Hume, FOX News
• Chet Huntley (deceased), The Huntley-Brinkley Report (NBC)
• Peter Jennings, ABC News
• Ted Koppel, ABC News, Nightline
• Jim Lehrer, The Newshour with Jim Lehrer (PBS)
• Robert MacNeil (retired), The MacNeil/Lehrer Newshour (PBS)
• Jane Pauley, NBC News
• Dan Rather, CBS News
• Tim Russert, NBC News
• Diane Sawyer, ABC News
• Maria Shriver, NBC News
• Brian Williams, CNBC
• Paula Zahn, CNN

Notable Canadian News Anchors

• Earl Cameron (retired), CBC Television News
• Ian Hanomansing, Canada Now (CBC)
• Harvey Kirck (deceased), CTV National News
• Peter Mansbridge, The National (CBC)
• Knowlton Nash (retired), The National (CBC)
• Kevin Newman, Global National
• Lloyd Robertson, CTV News

Notable British Newsreaders

• Huw Edwards (journalist) BBC
• Michael Buerk BBC
• Anna Ford BBC
• Trevor McDonald ITN
• Angela Rippon, BBC, ITV News Channel
• Moira Stewart, BBC
• Jon Snow, Channel 4 News
• Peter Sissons, BBC
• Jeremy Paxman, BBC

Notable Australian Newsreaders

• Brian Henderson TCN-9 Nine Network (Australia)
• Mal Walden ATV-10 Ten Network (Australia)

Notable Cantonese Newsreader

• Lavender Cheung, Cable TV news 2, Hong Kong

Note: "ABC" can stand for American Broadcasting Company as well as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.