Not so long ago (maybe three six months), about the best an anchor in a traffic jam could do was to pray he had plenty of gas and offer to do phone updates as long as his cell phone battery held out.  

O, how times have changed!  

When KGO anchor Dan Ashley was stuck for nearly three hours on the Oakland Bay Bridge, he used his i-phone to file video of himself on the bridge and to conduct interviews with others stranded and waiting with him. When he finally reached the crash site (an 18-wheeler had turned over and spilled cargo on the bridge), instead of coming into the station he stayed to broadcast live reports via the mast cam on one of the station’s live trucks on the bridge.

A couple of things worth note:

• The audio quality of the i-phone!

• Ashley’s energy and enthusiasm on the phone and on camera, and his ease with the folks on the bridge.  This is exactly what you want from a lead anchor, especially in an environment where the emphasis on anchor reporting is re-emerging.  Something big is happening.  Instead of observing remotely, he is right in the middle of it — talking to people and hanging around until everything is resolved.

Viewers, we know, place a premium on breaking news, and the use of the i-phone contributes to the as-it’s-happening quality of the report.  Even though the image is blurred when Dan moves, it’s not a deterrent to the impact of the segment, and we’re certain that Ashley and others like him will get better with more experience and practice.  

It also says a couple of important things about the anchor:  1) he’s comfortable where the action is and talking to “people like me”  and 2) he is comfortable with the technology more and more people are making a part of their daily lives.

As always, let us know what you think. In difficult and confusing times like these, your ability to communicate powerfully and authentically is more important than ever.

We'd love to hear what is working for you! If you have additional questions or thoughts, please contact us.