News Presenter

BBC Career:
Reporter/Presenter, Swansea Sound
Trainee journalist, BBC Cymru
Reporter, BBC Cymru
Parliamentary Reporter, BBC Cymru/S4C
Political Reporter, BBC News
Chief Parliamentary Reporter, BBC News &
BBC News 24.
Presenter, BBC News at 6.

Getting in:
I became interested as a student and got onto the BBC's training course.

The job:
I present the BBC's 'News at 6', the most popular news programme in Britain. I prepare scripts, research interviews and then present the programme. I have a say in the content and the order in which it appears. The work puts a great strain on the presenter, but it's a very satisfying job.

Highlight:
Being appointed a parliamentary reporter for BBC Cymru was an ambition I wanted to achieve and then being chosen to present 'News at 6'. It's an enormous task and very high profile, but I appreciate the responsibility.

Low:
The lights going out in the studio during an episode of 'News at 6' ! We had to evacuate the building following a complete power cut.

Tips from the top:
You need two things – the ability to work hard and patience! So many young people come in to the media expecting to make it overnight. You need to build up experience and be honest about your personal strengths and weaknesses. That's the secret.

Reading the news is easy :
Come and have a go! Over 7 million people watching... the autocue failing… items not being available to show the viewers... very easy!

Schooldays or college info:
Academic media courses are fine, but I believe traditional courses, languages for instance, are just as good. You need good language skills, and the ability to assess a subject in depth.

We chatted to Huw Edwards about careers in the media and his life as the BBC News anchorman. Read the transcript.