![CNN Talent Coach with students](https://fm.hunter.cuny.edu/dept/wp-content/uploads/1-1.png)
Hunter News Now students honed their anchoring skills last week in preparation for their first newscast on March 11th.
On-air talent coach Lennart Bourin told Prof. Sissel McCarthy’s students exactly what he tells the CNN anchors and reporters he now works with: be yourself and own the story. “The most important thing is to be authoritative and natural at the same time,” said Bourin, who spent 40 years in the news business as a cameraman, writer, and producer at NBC News, ABC News, Al Jazeera, and Bloomberg TV.
![CNN Talent Coach with a student](https://fm.hunter.cuny.edu/dept/wp-content/uploads/2.png)
Bourin gave the students some exercise to do if they feel nervous at the anchor desk. He suggests loosening up your body by moving your head, neck, and shoulders in a circular motion and then warming up your voice. “ Drinking warm water can help loosen your vocal cords—but stay away from astringents like coffee or tea,” Bourin said.
Students took turns reading a practice script from the teleprompter, and most agreed it is a lot harder than it looks. Bourin nodded knowingly and encouraged them to relax and practice. “Like so many things, you need to do it again and again to become a pro,” he said.