"I dare say that I can say I was happy." As a 'female solo anchor' that is hard to find in the country, Kim Joo-ha, who has led MBN's main news, shared her feelings about stepping down after 10 years.
On the 31st of last month, Anchor Kim Joo-ha appeared on the last broadcast of MBN's 'News 7.' The next day, on the 1st, a video obtained exclusively by OSEN captured the moment MBN 'News 7' staff celebrated Kim Joo-ha's last broadcast. After Kim Joo-ha finished her final closing remarks, the studio staff applauded and saw her off. The production team presented a large photo frame mosaic featuring Kim Joo-ha's images from the past 10 years, along with flowers and gifts, to honor 'female solo anchor' Kim Joo-ha's decade.
Starting as a mainstay anchor for MBC in 1997 and moving to MBN in 2015, Kim Joo-ha maintained her position as a female solo anchor for 10 years. Last month, she was promoted to special executive director at MBN, which led to her stepping down from anchoring after 'News 8,' 'General News,' and 'News 7.' We have heard Kim Joo-ha's feelings directly.
In a written interview with OSEN, Anchor Kim Joo-ha began by stating, "In the past, the mediums through which news was consumed were extremely limited compared to today. Newspapers, broadcasts, weekly magazines, and monthly magazines, for example. Moreover, there weren't many media outlets. But now, news consumers have access to countless news sources."
He mentioned, "However, this is not necessarily a good thing for anchors. Back when I was presenting news, the broadcasts and newspapers from a few competing media outlets were nearly all I consumed, but now it's mandatory to keep up with news pouring in from terrestrial channels, general programming channels, newspapers, online media, YouTube, and social media."
He continued, "An anchor must not miss the news that viewers are aware of, and they have to know how many viewers are informed about what to deliver the news appropriately." He emphasized, "Otherwise, there is a risk of presenting the news as if it is something everyone knows based on what only a few are actually aware of. It has become routine to chase after the news that pours in after even a brief meal," he confessed. "So, in a way, monitoring the news was more difficult than presenting the news itself."
Kim Joo-ha explained, "After finishing the news and getting off work, it would be around 3 to 4 a.m. by the time I listened to all three other news networks and sought out exclusive news from the remaining media outlets. On weekends, I needed to follow company news, so I had to watch at least 4 news programs, feeling like a student who hadn't done their homework, worrying endlessly. I would wake up before 9 a.m. to read 4 to 5 morning news articles, go to work, have lunch with the evening news, and have to prepare for the news during dinner, so I ended up eating finger food. Thinking back, for the first year and a half after joining MBN, I would arrive at work by 7:50 a.m. to attend the morning editorial meeting, as that was the meeting time back then."
He noted, "It's not that I have no regrets. Anchors need to interact with the people involved in the news and those who provide information, but living like this, I hardly had those encounters. However, the moment I put down the news, unexpectedly, many reporters waited after work without leaving and applauded as I entered the studio. Producers, technical staff, and camera directors even rushed into the studio and presented me with such a large bouquet and gifts that I couldn't possibly carry them alone. At that moment, my resolve not to cry crumbled, and I thought that even if I don't regret living like this, it was actually 'snot coming from my eyes' that I insisted it was," he said sheepishly.
Consequently, Anchor Kim Joo-ha said, "So, although I am stepping away from the news, I can dare say that I was happy" as she smiled. She shared, "The company promised its full support for a new program, so for now, I plan to use the 'vacation days' that I haven't utilized in 10 years with peace of mind. For the time being, you shouldn't look for me," she joked, adding, "I don't know when I will be able to change my 10-year habit of monitoring the news, but I think it's okay to change it slowly. Now, news has become 'life' for everyone."
[Photo] OSEN DB, tip video still cut, sourced from MBN.
[OSEN]