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 remember watching the BBC news channel a few years back and the newsreader visibly broke down whilst reporting the death of a colleague. That must have been bloody awful for him.

I don't expect them to cry but over the last few days the BBC local radio newsreader has sounded positively chipper about the murdered 4 month old and the sex slave ring bust. Actually cheerful and upbeat. A sombre tone would be more suitable I feel.

I like them all the more when they show a bit of humanity. I'd be dreadful, though - I cry at everything, happy and sad.

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

I really don't think this is true, is it?

This BBC journalist broke down after the Paris attack.

www.theguardian.com/world/video/2015/nov/17/bbc-reporter-overcome-with-emotion-live-on-air-from-paris-video

Even the best journalists occasionally crack.

Walter Cronkite was visibly shaken and had to 'gather himself' for a brief second after he announced the death of JFK in 1963. It was considered remarkable at the time for a newscaster to 'crack'.

To tell the truth, it makes me respect them a bit more to know that, at times, their 'humanity' breaks through.

To tell the truth, it makes me respect them a bit more to know that, at times, their 'humanity' breaks through.

Exactly. Who wants to watch a robot?!

They do now and again.

That said I'm pleased i don't see someone constantly blubbering with every slightly sad story, that would be very annoying!

I'd be a crap newsreader. I don't cry that much but I struggle to stifle giggles a lot, then again I find anything funny, I'd laugh at a swinging gate me

I think the op who said most people don't cry at things that don't affect them directly is wrong ime. It's a sad opinion.

You do see newsreaders moved at times, but it would be very unprofessional to cry or get angry or laugh. They are supposed to be neutral and a familiar and calm presence.

I'm not saying I want sobbing, obviously, I don't want anything. I am just surprised they don't tear up more.

The BBC northern news team were visibly tearful but calm when announcing the death of their colleague a couple of years ago. It was very moving.

I wouldn't get so sad but I would get angry, how do they contain their own opinions and stay cheerful & positive? That's the part I can't do.

I was so impressed with the Radio 2 team, the day after Terry Wogan died. I was crying, because their handling of it was superb.

Because it’s not the first time they’re hearing it.

When they read it out to you, they’ve already read, digested, discussed and rewritten the story many times. By the time it’s said out loud, it’s just words.

You compartmentalise. Work is work. It doesn’t matter how sad it is, you learn to detach it and leave it behind.

It doesn’t mean you’re heartless or uncaring. Often you have an initial reaction in private and gain control over your emotions. You also remind yourself that you cannot do your job if you are an emotional wreck.
Nothing is as bad as being present when the tragic deaths occur. Intensive care staff watching a child die without its parents present are entitled to shed a tear. Someone whose job is to read about it, with due preparation should be in control of their emotions.

I don't know anyone who cries about news stories that don't affect them. Of course you feel empathetic, moved, angry, sad, etc but to actually cry real tears is quite an exaggerated response imo. You can feel all the emotions but don't necessarily have to have tears rolling down your face to show emotion.

Are you crying daily hearing the death toll from this virus? I just can't imagine that. Id have no tears left to cry at this point...

Not a newsreader but I have been involved with some pretty horrible live news cases. You have to learn to compartmentalise - if you allowed it to affect you, your mental health would suffer. That skill makes it easier to keep emotions in check while working.

The only time I've ever reacted was dealing with a court case relating to a paedophile ring. I was 8.5 months pregnant at the time and was in tears just reading the (long list of) charges.

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.

One of those reports a few months ago is one of the few news stories I have read over the years that made me cry. The other that springs to mind was a man, an old man now, who survived an attack where in the 1970s he and his workmates were stopped in their van and lined up outside and shot. His 11 friends all died but he survived. Hearing him describe it 50 years later broke me.

It's strange how one particular story can move you so much, whilst with others you're able to compartmentalise and understand the tragedy, and feel sad for those involved, but not actually be moved to tears.

You compartmentalise. Work is work. It doesn’t matter how sad it is, you learn to detach it and leave it behind

Absolutely. My friend is a child psychologist who has a lot of dealings with terminally ill children. If she were crying every time she dealt with an eight year old talking about how frightened she was about what it was going to be like to die, she couldn't function and would be doing the children a disservice. She does have a weekly debrief to help deal with difficult things.

The other that springs to mind was a man, an old man now, who survived an attack where in the 1970s he and his workmates were stopped in their van and lined up outside and shot. His 11 friends all died but he survived. Hearing him describe it 50 years later broke me.

The Kingsmill massacre, @isabellerossignol?

The Kingsmill massacre, @isabellerossignol?

Yes, that's the one. I'm from N Ireland so I grew up with a lot of tragic events going on fairly constantly in the background, albeit I was only born in the mid 70s so only remember the 80s onwards. But even in a sea of tragedy that man's story is incredibly moving.

I saw that interview @isabellerossignol ...he was so scared that Brexit would take NI back to those dark times. It made me very angry and upset too.

Absolutely, I'm pretty much your age and from pretty much as far south west as you can go and not actually be on the Fastnet, but that one sticks, in a sea of other horrors.

I think also in my case because of the fact that the sole Catholic was allowed to go, and I inevitably (as with all the many other shootings where you didn't know who was behind the balaclava and didn't know which sectarian identity was going to get you killed or released) wondered endlessly about what I would have done.

I find people struggling to compose themselves very moving.

@AcrossthePond55 Here is the footage of Walter Cronkite receiving the news, you can see him struggling to compose himself.