Anchor/Reporter Appearance

Tracy Timberlake · 10-10-2009, 10:40 PM

Ever since we were young, we've been taught not to judge others by what they look like. Whether they were of another nationality, another race, had a physical deformity or anything that made them 'different' from yourself, we were taught to judge them, as Martin Luther King Jr. said 'by the content of their character'. So when does an anchor or reporter's appearance go beyond what is 'acceptable'.

What if Rob Johnson showed up on the 10 o'clock sporting a Mohawk? Rob Stafford wearing two large diamond earrings? Ron Magers with a neck tattoo? Kathy Brock with a shaved head? Allison Rosati with facial piercings? How much say does news management have over their people's appearance? How much say SHOULD they have? When does someone's appearance go too far? At some point does appearance affect your perception of the 'content of their character?

Yes, the above examples are extreme, but when does 'a bit much' become 'a bit too much'?

Fade To Black · 10-12-2009, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tracy Timberlake

Ever since we were young, we've been taught not to judge others by what they look like. Whether they were of another nationality, another race, had a physical deformity or anything that made them 'different' from yourself, we were taught to judge them, as Martin Luther King Jr. said 'by the content of their character'. So when does an anchor or reporter's appearance go beyond what is 'acceptable'.

What if Rob Johnson showed up on the 10 o'clock sporting a Mohawk? Rob Stafford wearing two large diamond earrings? Ron Magers with a neck tattoo? Kathy Brock with a shaved head? Allison Rosati with facial piercings? How much say does news management have over their people's appearance? How much say SHOULD they have? When does someone's appearance go too far? At some point does appearance affect your perception of the 'content of their character?

Yes, the above examples are extreme, but when does 'a bit much' become 'a bit too much'?

I think you would have to read their personal service contracts. Every one is different but I would have to believe that there are certain clauses pertaining to "professional appearance" and what constitutes that.

Call me prejudiced if you will, but aside from a "normal" earring (even on a man) body piercings are just disgusting. Large, gaudy tattoos also make you question the good sense of the person wearing them. Just personal opinions, mind you. Probably some of our younger peers would not be as opposed to them (which sort of scares me also).

Considering the conservative stance of most station managements, I would guess that the things you've mentioned (perhaps aside from the mowhawk...after all hair does grow back and Pat Elwood from WFLD was on the air for a while with a shaved head after doing the St. Baldricks "go bald" charity drive) would not be tolerated.

I don't think it's as much a matter of judging a person as questioning their good common sense to do such things to their bodies. Would you trust their objectivity in reporting the news?

Just one man's opinion, your mileage may vary

Telecine · 10-12-2009, 04:00 PM

Well of course they would not be allowed on the air. The most fun part would seeing the GM & News Director's heads explode.

Which might not be a bad thing after all.

As for tattoos well I'm old enough for them to only think they should be on older guys who have a drunken story from their time in the military attached. Oh and bikers. But I'm reminded of the main character in Fox's Prison Break. He had a tattoo that went from his waist to just under his neck and down his arms to above the wrist. The tattoo was part of his escape plan and really almost a character. But most of the time he wore a long sleeve shirt and you couldn't see it. I'm certain the long sleeve shirt was a production consideration so they didn't have to draw the tattoos on daily. He looked very respectable except when he took off the shirt. So I think a TV anchor could get tattoos almost anywhere a suit would cover.

Tracy Timberlake · 10-13-2009, 06:50 PM

Well, as I said, my examples were extreme. I was hoping this would take a slightly different turn.

Whether you want to name names or not.....is there anyone on the air that perhaps comes across as too 'ethnic'? Should management have any say?

Telecine · 10-13-2009, 11:08 PM

In many ways all the stations look alike. Older white guy or younger white guy. Female Asian and a black anchor more likely to be a female but there are guys out there.

Last too "ethnic" I saw was a woman on an Indian show on one of 26's sub channels. Won't see anything like that on a more "mainstream" station.

10-10-2009, 10:40 PM	#1
Tracy Timberlake Administrator Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 315	Anchor/Reporter Appearance Ever since we were young, we've been taught not to judge others by what they look like. Whether they were of another nationality, another race, had a physical deformity or anything that made them 'different' from yourself, we were taught to judge them, as Martin Luther King Jr. said 'by the content of their character'. So when does an anchor or reporter's appearance go beyond what is 'acceptable'. What if Rob Johnson showed up on the 10 o'clock sporting a Mohawk? Rob Stafford wearing two large diamond earrings? Ron Magers with a neck tattoo? Kathy Brock with a shaved head? Allison Rosati with facial piercings? How much say does news management have over their people's appearance? How much say SHOULD they have? When does someone's appearance go too far? At some point does appearance affect your perception of the 'content of their character? Yes, the above examples are extreme, but when does 'a bit much' become 'a bit too much'?

10-12-2009, 04:00 PM	#3
Telecine Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 73	Well of course they would not be allowed on the air. The most fun part would seeing the GM & News Director's heads explode. Which might not be a bad thing after all. As for tattoos well I'm old enough for them to only think they should be on older guys who have a drunken story from their time in the military attached. Oh and bikers. But I'm reminded of the main character in Fox's Prison Break. He had a tattoo that went from his waist to just under his neck and down his arms to above the wrist. The tattoo was part of his escape plan and really almost a character. But most of the time he wore a long sleeve shirt and you couldn't see it. I'm certain the long sleeve shirt was a production consideration so they didn't have to draw the tattoos on daily. He looked very respectable except when he took off the shirt. So I think a TV anchor could get tattoos almost anywhere a suit would cover. Last edited by Telecine; 10-12-2009 at 04:13 PM.

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10-13-2009, 06:50 PM	#4
Tracy Timberlake Administrator Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 315	Well, as I said, my examples were extreme. I was hoping this would take a slightly different turn. Whether you want to name names or not.....is there anyone on the air that perhaps comes across as too 'ethnic'? Should management have any say?

10-13-2009, 11:08 PM	#5
Telecine Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 73	In many ways all the stations look alike. Older white guy or younger white guy. Female Asian and a black anchor more likely to be a female but there are guys out there. Last too "ethnic" I saw was a woman on an Indian show on one of 26's sub channels. Won't see anything like that on a more "mainstream" station.