By Adebayo Abubakar
In broadcast journalism, it is the responsibility of the anchor to always ensure decorum on the show.
It is unheard of, for an anchor to be the one to always has to be pacified, at least, not when the show is ongoing. You could be pacified, behind the scene. Getting upset or insulted by your guest or callers-in is one of the occupational hazards of the job. Learn to deal with it, with equanimity.
An anchor at times, gets insulted by an Irate caller-in, or even the guest, but the most unprofessional thing would be to talk back in like manners.
The mistake people alway make is that, some anchors want their questions to be answered in a particular way – a way that reinforces their (political or ethno-religious) prejudices or biases. But it is not the duty of the guest to irrigate your emotional commitment to a “point of view,” just like it is not your duty to make your “politician guests” feel good. Rather it is the duty of your and their, lackeys or spouse(s) respectively .
Aa an anchor, your manner of questioning should not be like, your guest is standing trial before you. Even if you think they are, you have no right to bully them, trying to coax words out of their mouths. Whatever their responses are, move on to your next question, which could be a follow up question. The judges here are, your audience, not you. Let your listeners/viewers be the judges, lest, you’d be betraying your well-hidden (partisan) political interests or biases, which are not supposed to be discernible to to the public, at least, on your show.
If there is an allegation against your guest, going viral in the public space and you throw it at him as a question, however he answers it, should not be your headache.
If, however, you believe he didn’t hear you right, then you may repeat your question. But if he says, “No Comment,” you’d move to the next question because, “No Comment,” is a comment in itself. He has passed a message to the audience. Remember, in the English language, “No” is the shortest most complete sentence, if only you’re a respecter of dissenting views. Keep what you feel or your biases to yourself – limit it to within your livingroom or your circle of friends who are on the same page with you.
Also note that, a good journalist (broadcaster) is he who makes an otherwise reticent guest to air his view, express his feelings, and reveal what he would ordinarily not have spoken about. You don’t need to get unnecessarily argumentative with your interviewee on a live show. EEmphasis on a life show because an interview for print (newspaper platform) is always reeking of civility, professionalism, not making the interview about yourself.
I am a broadcast journalist. Those are the things I do/do not do. Thanks to Segun Akioya and Citizen Jones Usen, among others, for your tutelages at the National Broadcast Academy Shogunle Lagos.
Adebayo Abubakar is the Head of News and Current Affairs at Sobi FM Ilorin.
©️ Marx Bayour 2025
