STAYING ABREAST FEMALE ANCHORS A LOW-CUT SHIRT ABOVE THE REST.

Byline: Amy Tenowich

BREASTS are breaking news. In fact, they are breaking out of several local female anchors' blouses. Tune in yourself for an eyewitness account of the cramming and hoisting.

Perhaps this is the industry's attempt to make news more uplifting, but shouldn't the news be about coverage, not cleavage?

``If revealing female breasts can be used to sell Victoria's Secret products on TV, then, many stations are thinking, why not use those same breasts to sell the local news?'' said USC journalism professor Joe Saltzman.

Most local female anchors are dressed professionally, but the breast brigade stands out. On a recent scan of morning, afternoon and evening broadcasts, snug blouses and fuzzy sweaters, overflowing with bulbous cleaving flesh, abounded.

And the winners are ...

--Jillian Barberie on KTTV's (Channel 11) ``Good Day L.A.'' donned a tight, ultra-low-cut top that allowed her hair to spill betwixt her meaty bosoms.

--Michaela Pereira on the KTLA (Channel 5) morning news sported a tight, plunging blazer that displayed her hearty cleavage line, too.

--Lauren Sanchez on KCOP (Channel 13) had a teasing hint of cleavage, complemented by an ample skin-strip of midriff.

--Mia Lee and Jackie Johnson of KCAL (Channel 9) didn't show cleavage, but both were dressed in form-fitting casings that showed off their robust curves.

Female anchors were scanned on a subsequent day to ensure that the breast sightings weren't a freak occurrence. The results were similar. Lauren Sanchez's white top was even a little see-through. Fans can also check out her photo on the sister channel Fox11 Web site, in which roughly 65 percent of her left breast's profile graces cyberspace. Titillating!

These women are gorgeous. How can the male anchors compete? What's next, Hal Fishman with a belly ring? Paul Moyer in chaps?

All these women have a college background in journalism or communications, or have received journalistic awards. Maybe journalism schools should be offering credits for breast augmentation, to help future broadcasters get their points across.

Is someone actually telling these women to play the breast card?

Apparently, the entire deck isn't stacked in that way.

KABC (Channel 7) anchor Michelle Tuzee explained that her limited experience with image consultants - the stylists hired by a news organization to create a ``look'' for the on-air talent - was more about finding a professional aura, not a sexed-up one.

``My clothes should not detract from what I'm trying to communicate. I believe in the business world, your clothes should mean business,'' she said.

As for her supple colleagues?

``I guess they're just doing what they think is best for their careers. I've never been told to sex it up or glam it up. Thank goodness!''

But network reporter Judy Muller has been told to show some skin.

``The image consultant said, `You've got to stop wearing those turtlenecks. I think you've got to start showing some cleavage.' I told her I didn't think America was ready for that,'' Muller said.

She has continued to keep her breasts tucked in, and advises budding young journalists to do the same.

Another local anchor who chooses blazers over bustiers agreed to talk anonymously. ``You can't use my name or station affiliation. Understand?''

She was my Deep Throat, my personal leak in Waterbra-gate. I heard shuffling and the creaks of a door being closed.

``There are some people I work with, and it has been told to their agents, because of their bodies, that they shouldn't wear blazers but rather sweaters,'' she whispered. ``Sweaters show more.''

So, breasts are actively coaxed out to join the headlines. But even in more relaxed formats such as morning shows, must watching the news be reminiscent of something that costs $3.99 a minute?

Looking good is not a crime, and we ladies do appreciate a little eye candy with our hard news, too. Los Angeles females are still mourning KCAL and KCBS' loss of reporter Joel Connable to an NBC station in Miami. But pleasing as Connable is on the eyes, with his shiny hair and cheekbones for days, not once did he report in a clingy muscle shirt.

``I remember at a previous job, a producer asking a female colleague to dress sexier,'' Connable said. ``They wanted to show more cleavage. I think that is wrong.''

On all the broadcasts scanned for this piece, all the men - even the ``hotties'' - wore ties and jackets, none of which were padded.

``There's a different audience for different news products, and that's terrific. I applaud that,'' added the anonymous anchor. Then, with idealistic vim, ``I'd like to see a station go very serious.'' The vim deflates. ``They don't seem to do that.''

On-air newswomen must be presented as intelligent and credible, there to inform, not to arouse. It is time stations stop getting their wires crossed - newswires and underwires, that is - and realize that news should elevate the viewers' awareness - not the breasts of the anchor.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Lauren Sanchez reports on local channel KCOP.

(2 -- color) Jillian Barberie reports on KTTV's ``Good Day L.A.''