You want to be an anchorman? Think you'd look great sitting behind that impressive news desk reporting the stories of the day?

You're probably right, but to get that prestigious job requires a fair bit of hard work and an education diploma in Journalism.

This career is more than sitting behind a desk, talking into a camera, reading a teleprompter, shuffling papers and making little notes while a makeup artist touches up your face.

Let's take a look at some of the paths you should take to make in the news reporting business!

Reporting the news as an Anchorman looks glamorous. Many start out in the field as reporters, and often times find themselves out reporting the news themselves.

I hope you're water-proof, because you'll be standing in the rain, sleet, snow, wind, hurricanes, and heat. You'll be working daytime and nighttime, and probably most holidays as well, for the beginning Anchorman.

There is a feeling among many Anchors that they are 'removed' from the real news, so they jump at the chance to get back 'in the trenches' and get their stories straight from the sources, themselves.

It means traveling to where the stories are breaking. More and more there is no where a good reporter WON'T go. Media has changed the way wars are covered. The Middle East conflict had reporters and photographers embedded with the troops. In the line of fire. There were injuries sustained by some news reporters that were life-threatening and some fatalities. But that's what drives a good reporter. Being where the story is, where the action is. Getting the information, first hand, correct, and letting their viewers in on all the events, as they happen.

Broadcasting the news does not always go off without a hitch. 

Some mistakes happen!  Do you think fast on your feet?  On your seat?  "Bloopers" happen, but likely won't show up on the 6:00 News, thanks to great editors.  However, they sometimes do when there is live feed from an active story.

Yes, you're going to need to go to school. No whining!

A Degree in Broadcast Journalism is only the beginning. A course in Journalism could sound daunting. It will involve the following courses:

Media Studies:

You live in a global mulit-media society. You will need to understand how to be a literate and critical consumer and producer of media. This course defines all aspects of media, including print, performance, oral, photographic, cinematic, broadcast, and digital forms and practices. This course looks at the functions of media, the history and transformations in media, and the role of media in society at large (both past, present, and future).

Information Law and Policy:

This course deals with copyright laws and other laws relating to journalistic and creative writing. You will need to learn about legal protection of data, licensing of information, consumer protection, liability for defective information, insecure systems, privacy laws and international information policies.

Writing and Communication

Classes will teach you how to improve your grammar and communication skills. You will also learn how to communicate and understand how to connect with other people, both in the field and the community at large.

Newspaper and journal writing, editing, broadcast journalism, media law and ethics and photo journalism are some of the areas that a journalism college offers. Depending on the choice of school you can get a diploma, your degree and your masters in Arts and journalism.

With a diploma any media institution can give you a job. When taking up a course in journalism you will need all the practical and theory when it comes to editing, reporting and writing either for magazines, newspapers, television and website reporting.

A typical job opening will read something like this:

"Seeking an Anchor - a solid journalist with excellent story telling skills.  Looking for candidates who are not afraid of the hard work to get the story and ability to tell it in a creative, informative way.  Must have strong editorial leadership skills, ability to work well with people, as well as independently, with an eye for detail and accuracy.

Qualifications: 

Candidate must have a minimum of four years anchoring experience with an effective delivery style, and an ability to connect with the viewers.  Strong writing and copy editing skills are a requirement for this position.

Applicant must have proven reporting skills.  Community and station appearances are a significant part of the position."

A good journalist is someone that has an interest in the people and happenings in the community around them. That person should have an inquisitive nature, and be able to ask the 'tough questions' about the events shaping the stories.

A good journalist needs to have excellent communication skills, and use them to perfection, be flexible and adventurous. You're going to deal with stories that take time to develop, leads to follow, products to review if you deal with consumer safety, and all this under the stress of deadlines.

If you are a person that is able to meet deadlines and have an opinion on everything that happens, then a career in journalism could be just the one for you. Journalism is a broad field and it comes with many practices and theories, so investigate all the colleges and online schools that offer journalism degrees and if there are specialized fields in media that appeal to you!