If one wants to be a news anchor, is it necessary to be a reporter first?

It depends upon organisation, where you want to work. But, if your speaking skill is decent enough I think you will get direct the job of an anchor.

As a pampered anchor who never went to the field, you won't survive and thus, the job remains dependent. Media today is field based, see Ravish Kumar, Barkha Dutt, becoming an Anchor is not a big deal if you are well versed with reporting and develop excellent speaking skills.

Well, if you want to become a news reader you can. Pursue a course in it. But you will have to be a part of reporting more or less. In 12th, I had botany, chemistry and zoology. I never wanted to study botany but I was bound to do so because it was a part of my curriculum. Similarly, you can become