Reading a teleprompter effectively is a lot more difficult than many people think. First of all, most people don’t read aloud as well as they think they do. Add to that the problem of the sentences being cut up to just five or six words per line and those lines moving at a distance while you have lights in your face. Meanwhile, there’s a whole film or video crew watching you closely. Deal with all this while appearing not to be reading at all.

Step 1
Don’t fixate on the words. Novice teleprompter readers squint and stare at the words as they fly by. Moving words tend to frighten people. It forces them to read faster and make mistakes. That’s why it is often painfully obvious when watching someone with little experience with a teleprompter. Look at the prompter naturally. Notice what is happening to your face. If you are straining to focus on the prompter then stop.

Step 2
Know your material. It is imperative that you have familiarity with the script before you see it on the teleprompter. If you are already familiar with the copy you are less likely to strain to see the words. Reading a teleprompter effectively is all about not appearing to be reading at all. If your face is contorted and eyes squinting it will be obvious that you are.
Step 3
Relax. Use the prompter as a guide. Don’t try to read every word exactly as it is written on the prompter. Every anchor makes mistakes. Sometimes words are misspelled. Occasionally a long word will be cut in half because it’s too long for a line. Whatever the problem, if you get lost in your script you will fall apart on camera. If you already know your story well then you can adapt to whatever happens. The prompter is a very helpful tool but you must be able to communicate without it. Every teleprompter goes down at some point. If you are completely reliant on it you will be in big trouble when it eventually fails you.

Step 4
You must set the pace. Don’t let the pace dictate you. There is a temptation to read faster when the words are scrolling off the screen. Always remember that it is not your obligation to play catch up. Read the teleprompter at your own speed and make the operator adjust to you.

Step 5
Be natural and just talk. You may be looking at words on the teleprompter but all those people on the other side of the camera are looking at your face. They aren’t thinking about the fact that you are reading. You should therefore not give them any reason to think you are reading. Speak fluidly with natural pauses and inflection. Every time you catch yourself reading, stop and just talk.

Step 6
Practice. Effectively reading a teleprompter is all about confidence and comfort in front of the camera. The only way to gain that is through repetition. When reading a teleprompter comes as naturally as breathing you will be ready. Eventually, you will forget the teleprompter is even there.

Congratulations you are now a “prompter ninja”.