A news bulletin is the most important part of a radio station’s day and one that listeners have come to expect. They want a balanced mix of stories, some heavy and some light, some about major events and others about ordinary people. They also expect a certain pace to suit the story; for example a report on an accident or fire may be read at a very quick pace using short snappy words whilst an explanation of some complex political issue might be read at a slightly slower pace to allow listeners time to absorb the information.
The actual order of stories within a bulletin will depend to some extent on the format of the station; serious national broadcasters tend to use more serious, slow-paced news items whereas youth-oriented music stations might prefer lighter, brighter stories focusing on popular culture. However, it is good practice to headline the major stories and it is also usual to have a dramatic story at the end of the bulletin in the hope that this will encourage listeners to stay tuned until the very end of the programme.
It is advisable to include sound bites whenever possible as listeners enjoy hearing the voice of the person telling the story. Especially, when this is someone from within the local community. They like to hear their own voices on the radio and it makes your reports more authoritative and trustworthy. But, it is essential that the sounds you choose are carefully edited and judiciously used, adding variety to the bulletin without distracting from the main thrust of the information.