Podcast Summary: All Ears English Podcast

Episode Title: Breaking News! Don't Speak Like a News Anchor in English (AEE 2528)
Hosts: Lindsay McMahon & Michelle Kaplan
Date: December 10, 2025
Theme:
This episode addresses a listener question about the difference between the way American news anchors speak on TV and the way Americans converse in everyday life. Lindsay and Michelle break down the concept of "news anchor cadence," explore why you shouldn't model your spoken English on newscasters, and offer practical vocabulary and cultural tips for intermediate to advanced English learners.

Main Episode Theme

Purpose:
To clarify the differences between newscaster English (pronunciation, cadence, rhythm, and vocabulary) and authentic, conversational American English. The hosts want listeners to strive for "connection, not perfection," and to avoid sounding overly formal or scripted in everyday communication.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Where the Hosts Get Their News (02:10–03:48)

• Michelle: Mix of TV, articles, and some social media ("take it with a grain of salt" — don’t always believe what you read online).
• Lindsay: Avoids social media for news; prefers podcasts (The Daily, The Journal, Vox's Today Explained). Sometimes keeps CNN or The New York Times open.
  • [03:05] Lindsay: “Yeah, grain of salt. Take it with a grain of salt. Great bonus for today, you know, not taking it seriously. Really not taking it seriously.”

Listener Question: Is News Anchor English Like Everyday American English? (05:18–06:17)

• The listener asks if the way CNN news anchors speak is similar to daily American spoken English.
• Both agree this is about more than just accent; it’s about cadence and delivery.
  • [06:16] Michelle: “Yeah, and I took it more like not...This may not be a question of accent that you’re wondering about it maybe about the word cadence.”

What Is "Cadence" in Spoken English? (06:17–07:27)

• Definition: The "song" of English; rhythm, flow, ups and downs in speech.
• The true difference is in cadence and rhythm, less so in accent.
  • [07:00] Lindsay: “I think there's a lot of secrets for our listeners in cadence and rhythm on how to be clear, less so in accents.”

Accent vs. Cadence and the "Standard" Accent (08:39–10:17)

• National news anchors tend to use a neutral or "Midwestern" accent—less regional, more standard.
  • [09:18] Lindsay: “The Midwestern standard for the US for news anchor, you think?”
• Networks may train anchors to reduce regional qualities.

The News Anchor "Voice" Explained (10:17–13:32)

• News anchor style: Deep voice, slower speed, deliberate pauses, clear enunciation, less connected speech, formal delivery.
• This style is NOT used in casual conversation.
  • [12:11] Michelle: “If I said like for All Ears English, I'm Michelle Kaplan. Right. So that would be if I'm reporting and at the very end...”
• Example: Anderson Cooper reporting vs. Anderson Cooper joking on New Year’s Eve.

Reading vs. Speaking Naturally (11:54–12:53)

• News anchors often read from teleprompters, naturally creating a more staged style.
• [11:54] Lindsay: “...they’re reading off a teleprompter. Right. Usually when they’re in studio. So I think that naturally lends itself to just really isolating the words outside of typical conversational English and it makes it a more stage based English.”

When News Anchor Cadence Appears Elsewhere (13:12–13:32)

• Speaking styles adjust to context: podcast intros, announcements, titles are often more "announcer-style."
• [12:53] Michelle: “It also goes along...even Lindsay, when we use an announcer voice sometimes when we’re doing the titles.”

Humor and Puns in Broadcast News (13:15–14:09)

• News stories, especially lighter ones, often feature cheesy puns and wordplay at the end.

Key Takeaway:

Don’t Copy News Anchors to Sound Natural

• News-anchor cadence is useful for broadcast, not for parties, meetings, or daily life.
• If you mimic it in natural conversation, it will sound stiff or even comedic.
  • [08:18] Lindsay: “If you went to a party and started talking like a newscaster...No, we don’t like that in everyday life.”
  • [16:11] Michelle: “So the answer for our listener is it’s completely different...But don’t go to a party speaking like a newscaster is kind of my takeaway so far in the episode.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

On the Differences

• Michelle: [11:27] “...if you ran into Anderson Cooper on the street, he’s not gonna speak the same way he does when he’s reporting live from a hurricane.”
• Lindsay: [21:25] “No, it wasn’t the normal cadence for this podcast. Right. There was something elevated about it...You’re punching each word a bit more.”

On Cadence & Fluency

• Lindsay: [24:20] “You guys are at the right level to start to pay attention to cadence differences...That’s going to be put you on the path to fluency.”

On Using News Terms Casually

• Michelle: [17:50] “Yeah, you could say something like, breaking news. Cliff got engaged.”
• Michelle (humorous): [18:05] “And you don't need to say it like a newscaster just because you take ‘breaking news.’”

Practical Takeaways & Expressions

Expressions from News English & How to Use Them Casually (16:49–20:13)

1. Breaking news

   • Meaning: Important, just-learned news.
   • Used playfully in daily life: “Breaking news — Cliff got engaged!”

2. On the record / Off the record

   • Meaning: Can something be officially quoted/public?
   • Daily life example: “Off the record, I heard that Mike and Carrie are getting divorced.”

3. Back to you

   • Typically a handoff phrase between broadcasters.
   • Used as a joke in conversation: “Okay, sorry, back to you, Chris.”

Anchor-Style Role Play Demo (20:33–22:30)

• Michelle and Lindsay demonstrate a news anchor exchange using newscaster vocabulary and cadence.
• Notable analysis (21:43 Lindsay): “There was something elevated about it...You’re punching each word a bit more.”
• Both note how unnatural this style feels in informal settings.

Cultural and Pronunciation Tips

• Don’t shadow or copy news anchors for speaking practice. Use podcasts or conversations for more natural pronunciation and cadence.
  • [16:20] Lindsay: “Don’t shadow...don’t use that as your primary material. If you’re shadowing, use something like a podcast, like what we’re doing here.”
• Accent is less important than rhythm and clarity for making connections in English.
• Notice how your speech (cadence, delivery) changes depending on context: formal/informal, work/friends, etc.

Memorable Moments

• Michelle supplies an enthusiastic "anchor woman voice" demo for laughs.
• The playful use of news catchphrases (“breaking news,” “back to you”) shows how English learners can adapt formal expressions for fun in everyday conversation.
• Both hosts poke fun at CNN's overuse of "breaking news banners."
• [20:03] Lindsay (joking about using 'back to you' socially): “There goes that girl who always thinks she's on the news.”

Important Timestamps

• 02:10–03:48: How the hosts consume news / idiom “grain of salt”
• 05:18–06:17: Listener question and clarification about the news anchor voice
• 10:17–12:53: Details of the news anchor voice (formality, reading, enunciation)
• 16:49–20:00: Useful news expressions and their everyday/social uses
• 20:33–22:30: News broadcaster style/role-play demonstration
• 24:20–24:39: Advice on noticing cadence differences for fluency

Final Advice & Wrap Up

• Lindsay: Regular English conversations are vastly different from news anchor style. Focus on sounding natural and making connections, not on perfection or “sounding like the news.”
• Michelle: Recognize that we all adjust our speech for different contexts—a valuable skill for language learners.

For ESL Learners:
If you’re tempted to imitate a news anchor, remember: aim for conversation and connection! Reserve the news voice for fun role play or presentation practice, not daily communication.