Who is responsible for what local TV anchors, reporters, etc wear when on the air? Does the station keep a wardrobe? Do they have a wardrobe person who helps them dress? Or is it pretty much up to the “talent” to decide what they will wear on the air? Do they buy their own clothes? Do they get a wardrobe budget?
The reason I ask is that we have a female anchor on one of our local stations who sometimes wears some really weird looking outfits. My wife and I are both amazed that management lets her on the air wearing some of the stuff she does, which got me to wondering who is responsible.
They have a dress code, but it’s basic stuff like no t-shirts, and they choose their own clothes as long as it’s within the guidelines. At least at one station here in Portland, it doesn’t sound like they get a budget for it. From a kerfuffle a couple years ago here when a viewer criticized an anchor’s clothes:
“I’m a pretty secure person but 10 years ago this would have rattled me,” she said. “I probably would have stopped wearing whatever that guy was criticizing and I would have gone out there with my minuscule paycheck and tried to buy some more clothes and tried to adjust."
And you might not want to share your opinion of the woman’s clothing with her if you don’t want to become a national story.
I think I’ve maybe seen that the top local anchor might have a “suits by” credit, but it seems like they mostly provide their own. And I guess the reporters on location have some variety between own wardrobe and station branded outerwear, especially in storm chaser season.
Some news anchors worry only about what shows on camera. Under the table, they might be wearing jeans or shorts, and then ditch the rest for more casual wear once their broadcast is over.
One of the local/national morning news shows has the female anchor dressed by local designers. The clothes are then sold at a local mall and the proceeds donated to charity:
Growing up in a relatively small TV market (Green Bay), I do recall that there was often such a credit at the end of the local newscasts, noting that the lead male anchor’s wardrobe was provided by a local men’s clothing store.
I work at a heritage TV station (think 75 years of history) in a medium-sized market. Our news anchors are under contract and well-paid, so I don’t believe they receive any sort of stipend for clothing. It’s up to them to dress accordingly, but there are standards they must follow. (I’m not one of them, so I don’t know what they are.) Lower-level reporters are also on their own. There are enough eyes on these people from a local and corporate level that should anyone dress outrageously, it would be nipped in the bud, but these people are smart enough to know what’s appropriate for their position. They learn the ropes at their first job in East Jesus Montana before they ever get to this level.
Many years ago I went to a local tailoring shop to get a suit altered. The weather guy from one of the area TV stations was there, explaining to the tailor that he needed his jacket altered a certain way because he was a meteorologist and had to point at maps a lot.
I concluded from that experience that the station didn’t provide his wardrobe.
The trend I can’t figure - a lot of the Phoenix market news and weather women all wear dresses that are too small. Tight is nice, I guess, but looking like an overstuffed sausage isn’t, at least to this old fart.
We have a new TV sports woman on weekends who is very tall. And her skirts are very short. Not that I am complaining. She had pants on the other day. With heels she’s probably 6-4 easy. I guess they must be OK with her wardrobe.
As far as I can tell, BBC presenters provide their own clothes. For some of the more fashionable, like Naga Munchetty, it may well be the case that a designer would offer her outfits, but I have no evidence for that.
Some presenters are self-employed contractors, so clothes would be a legitimate business expense to offset against tax.
She had pants on the other day. With heels she’s probably 6-4 easy. I guess they must be OK with her wardrobe.