A TV expert has weighed in on the debate over the worst news presenter on air, and the answer may surprise you. While many viewers have strong opinions about certain broadcasters, the expert argues that reading the news requires more than just reciting stories.
The Art of Newsreading
Former Newsnight host Jeremy Paxman once said, "Any fool can read the news." He later publicly denounced the profession, claiming it lacks "any grandeur or skill" during an appearance on the RHLSTP with Richard Herring podcast. While his comments may seem harsh towards his former colleagues, few can deny that newsreading often appears deceptively simple. This raises the question: why are some presenters better than others?
Having to watch a great deal of news for work, the expert notes that there is more to the job than Paxman suggested. Presenters must understand the stories and their background to convey them with appropriate gravitas or humour. They need to emphasise the correct parts of a story and, most importantly, articulate clearly.
Despite his deeply flawed personal choices, few would argue that Huw Edwards was not skilled at his job before his fall from grace. He ticked all the boxes for a news presenter—except for his inappropriate behaviour.
Impartiality Challenges
Alongside the necessary skills, presenters must adhere to guidelines, including impartiality. This is an area where some struggle. BBC Breakfast's Naga Munchetty, who has been with the BBC since 2008, was found to have breached BBC guidelines in 2019 after stating she was "absolutely furious" about Donald Trump's remarks telling female politicians of colour to "go back" to their home countries. The decision prompted a massive backlash, and the ruling was eventually reversed by then-Director General Lord Hall, who stated her words were not sufficient to merit an upheld complaint. However, it does call her impartiality into question.
This does not necessarily make her the worst newsreader on TV. Several others have also shown impartiality issues around certain stories. Last year, BBC newsreader Martine Croxall famously went viral and was found to have broken BBC impartiality rules after altering a live broadcast script to change the term "pregnant people" to "women." The BBC's Executive Complaints Unit upheld 20 impartiality complaints and concluded her facial expressions and on-air script changes gave the "strong impression of expressing a personal view on a controversial matter" regarding trans identity, thereby violating editorial guidelines. Regardless of personal feelings on the issues, newsreaders are not supposed to present their own views.
The Worst of the Worst
But even that does not necessarily make someone the worst—and it is a very subjective matter. A quick search around the internet shows Kay Burley was unpopular with many viewers before her departure from Sky News in February 2025. Yet others really liked her.
So, as a TV expert, who is unequivocally the worst? It has to be one of Sky News' most recent signings, Cathy Newman, who joined after a 20-year stint at Channel 4 News. She was the subject of many complaints throughout those two decades, and just weeks into her new role, she was humiliated live on air by Zia Yusuf.
He shut her down while discussing Nigel Farage's comments about the murder of Henry Nowak. Referring to the recent protests which had broken out in Southampton, Newman said: "Nigel Farage issued a statement on camera calling for people to respond with 'pure cold rage', that's incitement, isn't it?"
"Did you watch the bodycam footage, Cathy?" he asked. As Newman noted, she had swiftly interrupted Yusuf. "Cathy, what did you feel having watched it?" When she ignored the question, he continued to press her, leading the presenter to announce: "I'm conducting the interview, so I am asking you if that is incitement." As soon as she had to pull the "I'm the interviewer" card, she lost all credibility—and that is something all news presenters need in spades.
