Career：Infotainment anchor

[2020.09.23] 發表

【明報專訊】What is Infotainment?

As you can guess, the word 'infotainment' comes from 'information' and 'entertainment'. With online streaming platforms, web-based broadcasters and social media like YouTube and Instagram becoming more and more popular, people are more and more interested in learning about things in an on-demand way, where viewers can choose the information they need when they are free to watch instead of passively listening to all the information reported from TV or radio news programmes.

The knowledge provided by infotainment videos is also more diverse. In addition to current affairs and history, infotainment videos also contain different topics, from news about the latest technology to fun facts about trends among youngsters.

What are some major differences between an infotainment anchor and a traditional news anchor ?

Traditionally, news anchors (新聞主播) are portrayed as a professional news reporter dressed formally in front of a desk. Infotainment anchors (資訊娛樂主播), however, are required to finish shootings outside studios, which allows them to be less formally presented. For example, some infotainment anchors dye their hair and wear casual outfits.

Also, as some infotainment content providers and web-based production houses have fewer resources than major broadcasters, anchors may have to do their own make up, write their own scripts, conduct street interviews, as well as editing and adding special effects to the videos themselves.

■Gear up

Match the terms with the right meanings.

1. Micro-celebrities

2. On-demand

3. Sponsored content

A. Famous infotainment anchors with their own online fan bases.

B. Advertising contents made with another business providing money, products, services or other aids to support the production.

C. Viewers can choose what they want to see at their own preferred time; no fixed broadcast time.

(Answers on next text)

■Glossary

web-based (adj) 以網頁為媒體的

passively (adv) 被動地