TikTok has become a new outlet for news consumption for young audiences, a platformwhere short-form video is standard. Visual elements such as a reporter on screen havebecome an important tool for news storytelling on TikTok. This study examines how areporter on screen impacts upper secondary school students' perception of credibility andengagement with journalistic news videos on TikTok in Kalmar.This research builds on theories of journalistic credibility and Uses and GratificationTheory. A qualitative interview study was conducted using semi-structured interviews withupper secondary students in Kalmar. A reflexive thematic analysis identified patterns inhow a reporter on screen affects the student's perception of credibility and engagement.The results show that an on-screen reporter influences both credibility and engagement indifferent ways. Credibility was linked to the reporter’s perceived competence, includingage, tone of voice, and body language. Older reporters were seen as more trustworthy, andthe result also showed that a calm voice and confident body language enhance credibility.Reporters representing established media seemed more credible than influencers orordinary individuals. Familiar reporters increase trust and engagement. Showing one’s facesignals accountability, and the human presence made news feel personal. On-screenreporters also reduce perceived risks of AI-generated deception, as faking a visible reporteris harder than faking images or voice-overs.Engagement was enhanced by satisfying cognitive, affective, integrative, and social needs.Reporters made news more understandable, spoke directly to the audience, and used toneand body language to evoke emotions. Some of the students are more likely to like or sharenews with reporters on screen, though content remains the main factor, while commentingwas rare. This study concludes that an on-screen reporter affects both credibility andengagement among upper secondary students on TikTok. Credibility and engagement areclosely linked and sometimes in tension, highlighting important avenues for futureresearch.