Use the microphone correctly. This will improve your report sound quality. For example, test the sound levels of the mic beforehand and ensure that your sound engineer --- if you have one --- is happy with the atmosphere and background levels. Speak into the microphone for a little bit while the engineer evaluates the quality. Hold the microphone firmly as well; the prop will pick up any handling noise if you are shaking or rattling it around in your palm.
Also, always direct the microphone to the person you are speaking to. This will not only improve the pickup of sound but will also affirm that you want the other person to speak. Hold the mic toward yourself when you want to talk. This will help prevent lots of people speaking at once, making your report appear amateurish.
Arrange the set props properly. Ensure that the set props are not distracting your report. Set props are the inanimate objects --- such as tables, chairs and computers --- that sit in the setting or background of your shot. Check before you shoot that the prop is not distracting in any way. For example, if you are filming a report on a computer virus and a PC set is a prop behind you, ensure that the PC screen display is not an animation or anything that will draw focus from your words and face. Similarly, keep your props to a minimum; any extra or unnecessary items next to the PC --- such as a mug with a funny phrase --- will distract your audience from the story.
Hold any hand-held props so the camera can see fully what it is. Ensure also that you do so without obstructing the view of those watching the report. For example, a story about a candy bar's offensive name might mandate that you hold the bar. However, avoid holding the bar with your fingers over the offensive name; otherwise, the audience will not see any connection and your prop will seem irrelevant and misplaced. Marianne Matheis on SpeakerNet News says speakers should never "use props unless there is a specific point that they want to make. If the audience can't easily understand why a prop is being used, the speaker will lose credibility."