<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/57lmA.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/57lmA.jpg" alt=""></a></p>

<p>What is this thing (shown by the arrow) in front of news presenters? Sometimes (sometimes→as I've seen) they press a button on that.. What's it called? Its purpose?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-28T22:06:03.253Z
Video of them pushing on it might help give context. The only thing I would think they would need to push would be some sort of interaction with a prompt machine.
user3643
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-29T14:43:19.437Z
Looks like a digital clock to me
MoritzLost
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-12T17:39:05.970Z
@fredsbend what would pressing it do to a tele-prompter?
user152435
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-12T18:07:53.960Z
Pause or play the scroll. Sometimes the scroll moves too fast or slow, so you might need to adjust it mid-speech.
user3643
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-12T18:09:59.750Z
But usually someone off screen does it as they pay close attention to the speaker's pace. Having the speaker do mysterious things with an unknown machine distracts audiences, as clearly evidenced by your question.
user3643
<broadcasting>
What is this thing near a news presenter?
user152435
# What is this thing near a news presenter?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-10-28)

[![](https://i.sstatic.net/57lmA.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/57lmA.jpg)

What is this thing (shown by the arrow) in front of news presenters? Sometimes (sometimes→as I've seen) they press a button on that.. What's it called? Its purpose?

**Tags:** broadcasting

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Video of them pushing on it might help give context. The only thing I would think they would need to push would be some sort of interaction with a prompt machine.  
> **username_2**: Looks like a digital clock to me  
> **username_0**: @fredsbend what would pressing it do to a tele-prompter?  
> **username_1**: Pause or play the scroll. Sometimes the scroll moves too fast or slow, so you might need to adjust it mid-speech.  
> **username_1**: But usually someone off screen does it as they pay close attention to the speaker's pace. Having the speaker do mysterious things with an unknown machine distracts audiences, as clearly evidenced by your question.  

---

## 0 answers

