Are news anchors really smart people or is the job cosmetic in nature?

Question

I'm not talking about guys like O'Reilly, Anderson Cooper, and people like that but I'm talking about anchors like Jane Skinner, Kiran Chetry, etc.

Are they just there for the looks?

I don't think they are too bright.

Answer 1

Anchors in general need to be of some intelligence or they cannot give the news. Public speaking requires more than the ability to talk..

Answer 2

I agree. They just read the tele-prompter with no idea what it says. BTW Anderson Cooper, whom I like,  got his job by buying his own VHS camera and going free-lance to trouble spots at his own expense. (Mommy is famous/rich.) The last "really smart" talking head other than Tim Russert was Dan Rather.

Answer 3

All that is required is the ablility to read, a good command of the english language, and look good while doing so!

Answer 4

When you get to the major network stage, it's completely cosmetic.  The anchors aren't idiots, but they're no smarter than any other journalists out there.  They're just better looking.

Answer 5

I  would  think  that  they  have  to  have  it  all,  they  have  to  look  good,  be  sharp  and  smart   too.

Answer 6

i don't know about being smart because alot of them are lawyers.