Anchor/Presenters work at the front line of television and radio. They introduce and host programmes, read the news, interview people and report on issues and events. As the number of channels and radio stations increases, so do the openings, but opportunities to become a Presenter are still scarce and competition is fierce.

Presenters work across the whole spectrum of broadcasting – national and regional television and radio, satellite and cable channels – and also in the non-broadcast sector, e.g. training and corporate productions. Most are employed on short contracts and the hours can be long and unsociable. The work may be studio based or on location. Some presenters achieve celebrity status and command high salaries, but life in the public gaze is not always desirable.

Some presenters work on a range of programmes; others specialise in a particular type, such as current affairs. The calm and relaxed manner of successful presenters makes the job seem easier than it is. They are usually involved in the careful planning that goes into every programme, including rehearsals and research, and they keep the programme running to plan whilst on air, working closely with the production team, often following detailed instructions whilst reading from an autocue and/or script, and responding positively to any problems or changes. They may write their own material and they also need to be able to memorise facts and ad-lib when necessary.