A news bulletin is a short piece of broadcast journalism which provides listeners with a snapshot of current events. It can be sourced from local, national or international news agencies. The content of a news bulletin can be a mixture of hard and soft stories, and should aim to appeal to a broad range of interests. It is a chance for a radio journalist to showcase their ability to create interesting and compelling news stories in a limited time frame.
The type of story chosen will be influenced by the station’s news agenda, which is set by the programme director. This will determine which stories are given priority, how they are covered and in what format.
Some broadcasters have specialised areas of their news agenda, for example sports or business news. Others have a generalist approach to the news and may offer a range of different formats including breaking news, feature news, and investigative reports.
The tone of voice used is also important. The newsreader must be clear and easy to understand, and avoid reading too quickly or slurring words. Pronunciation is also critical, especially with foreign names, and a bad pronunciation can damage the credibility of the broadcast. Likewise, a sing-song tone or an exaggerated emphasis on certain words can grate on listeners.
Often a news bulletin will include sound bites from witnesses or people directly involved in an event, known as one-way or two-way interviews. This can make a story more compelling and give the listener an insight into what is happening. However, too many sound clips can distract the audience, so these should be limited.