We all know the spiel, you need to be young, attractive, at least to the camera, and have a deadly voice and an awesome personality and you have it made. But who has all these characteristics and a passion for the lights at the same time?

More often than not TV presenting jobs feel like they are well out of the reach of the more common man; thereby presenting an insurmountable barrier between the life in the spotlight and life on the other side of the camera as it were.

But let’s take a look at the basics of TV presenting. Most people do not know it but there are some fundamentals that any TV presenter must have command of before they can deliver results in front of the camera.

One such fundamental is the ability to carry out extensive research. An efficient TV presenter has the ability to communicate a deep knowledge and appreciation for the topics they are presenting on. If you are going to discuss a particular economic issue, master the facts and the variables. Viewers can see through a crammed speech, despite how well you rehearse it.

Extensive research and familiarity are hard to muster without passion; therefore take time to find an area you are really passionate about. This will form the subject matter of your research. The research process does not begin when you get the job but rather before in terms of finding the right niche for yourself. This gives you a knowledge source from which you can refer in the course of your career as a TV presenter.

TV presenting is about presenting something only you have worked on to a much wider public. And beyond that you need to be able to convince them that the points of view or details are indeed as per the description you have given. The most straightforward way to accomplish this is to believe in your research, this will help you exude a confidence that will portray the image of someone who is certain.

Your choice of words is as fundamental as the clothes you wear. TV presenting is based on words more than visual stimulation. The choice of words used must be relevant to the subject matter in question as well as the audience you are addressing. If you are presenting a youth oriented show you want to use slang and simple English to communicate your message. The same theory applies when you are presenting an update about a calamity in which dozens lost their lives and a piece about the world’s oldest voter.

Mind your body language as well. Despite common belief, the presenter is not supposed to be some sort of stiff zombie reading from the teleprompter. Move a little, it lends credence to what you are saying.

Those are just a few of the basics about TV presenting. If you want to get in on the action, then you need to position yourself accordingly. This may entail exposure to casting agents, producers, directors and other industry players. This kind of exposure is likely to land you in the right place at the right time. In any case, most of these tips can be learnt, and in some cases may actually help surmount the barrier between convention and the possibility that YOU could be the next big thing.