How on earth do newsreaders not cry when they read such sad stories ?

[SunshineCake]

I have thought about this before but the news just now has prompted me to post, also might be a good topic for a live chat. Remember those ?

I'm not heartless, I'm quite emotional really, but I doubt think I've ever been moved to tears reading about a news story, no matter how tragic.

Well I've never cried at hearing/reading sad stuff, so I'd imagine it's easy enough.

Most people don't cry at stuff that doesn't directly happen to them.

I have to read some pretty hardcore stuff and view upsetting pictures as part of a job. You have to learn to switch off and use another part of yourself to do it.

i definitely would! i cry at bloody everything. i’ve just cried watching the news about an elderly lady who has died and her neighbours lined the streets to send her off. i’m tearing up again thinking about it.

Kindred spirits *@sunshineandshower21... I was beginning to feel the odd one out!

Don’t they write their own words? They probably cry when they write it rather than when they read it. Also: professionalism.

I've just been moved to tears watching the news about the twin sisters who died, I would be rubbish as a newsreader.

I always remember the reporter breaking down in Paris after the 2015 bombings. But different reporting from the scene I guess.
As far as newsreaders are concerned..no idea..but then I cry at the drop of a hat and have often cried at news stories.
People are all different.

Because it's different. It's a different part of the brain being used. You are responding, they are presenting. When I taught, I could 'present' anything and stay on topic because my role was speaking rather than listening and responding. Except... if a child caught my eye and giggled- at that point I became a human and got caught up in it with them!

They do sometimes. You can hear their voice wobble at times.

Kate Silverton cried while reading a report from Syria a few years ago. It was then news. She always seems so lovely

I've been tearful at the positive side of covid as well, all the acts of kindness but I cry at sad stuff. When I was poorly in hospital the nurse said I probably should cry about my stuff as I had told her I don't but would if I watched or read something sad. Comes from being hit by my mother for crying when I was two years old.

I think that newsreaders, have to train themselves to be quite stoical, and not to show too much emotion, it's part of their work ethics.

They will look quite smiley sometimes,when reporting on some rare happy or frivolous item, But just speak in more sombre tones when the news is dire and shocking. They would probably cry in the away from work situations, like their family matters etc.

Sometimes they do. One of the bbc newsreaders got totally chocked up at the beginning of lockdown when reading a tribute to someone who’d died from coronavirus.

Because they'd be crap newsreaders if they did.

I was a newsreader for years (radio) - never cried on air, that would be extremely unprofessional but it didn’t mean that I wasn’t affected by some of the stories I read. You put your newsreader hat on, worry about the technical aspects and do your job.

I'm not a newscaster, but I am involved with live news, and I don't cry when live, no matter how sad the story. I'll be thinking in my head how horrible, how awful, but I don't cry as would not be able to do my job.

Children singing, though, BAM, I well up even if it's happy singing. Fucking ridiculous, it's like a Pavlovian reaction.

There’s a news reader where I am who cries fairly regularly. He’s very popular, I think because he is so human.

I've seen newsreaders tearful/upset (in Ireland) from time to time. I guess that they typically know the details in advance, and can prepare themselves to some extent.

I was thinking that about Sophie Raworth tonight. She'd already tweeted about the death of Lynn Faulds Wood and that she'd known her since she was 14 and that she was her parents' neighbour. That must have been really emotional for her.

I remember Trevor McDonald crying while he was reading out about Princess Diana's death.

I guess it is to do with professionalism.

That makes sense, I thought Sophie Raworth seemed quite affected when reading the news about Lynn Faulds Wood and the photo of her lingered on the screen slight longer than usual, I presumed to allow Sophie to compose herself.

I remember a newsreader who was inconsolable after reading a story about terrible cruelty to a dog.

It was the last item of the day and as the news finished and the picture faded all you could hear was her sobbing

I’d be a terrible newsreader. I cry at all sorts. My dc groan when I’m reading bedtime stories and I get that tell in my voice, and say accusingly “are you going to CRY?” which ruins the mood every time. I reckon they’ll grow up to be great newsreaders though.

I've often wondered about this, too. I'd be a crap newsreader. I've always been emotional, but since my stroke I cry at everything!

In the US, broadcaster Rachel Maddox broke down when reading a report about children being separated from their parents under Trumps immigration rules. Frankly I don't blame her. m.youtube.com/watch?v=DKuIjT-k-C8