A news bulletin is a short radio broadcast, giving the bare facts of news stories before more depth is added in a full programme. Writing a news bulletin involves journalistic skills, being clear and concise, but also editing – selecting, checking, ranking and combining stories. A good bulletin has the right balance and pace to keep listeners interested. Too many long complicated stories can leave them breathless, while too much fast moving news could lose their interest altogether.
A good lead story can make or break a bulletin. It is the first story the audience will hear, so it is important to be dramatic and catch their attention. The same applies to the other stories. Often the lead story will be a dramatic piece, such as a major disaster or the death of someone well known. This will usually be read by the main newsreader, who should be reading the story with authority and drama.
If there is an urgent news story, it can be a “news flash”, which will normally be read before the main headlines. These stories can be more interesting and dramatic to listeners if they include some short recorded sound called actuality. This can be the sound of speech or an interview with a person who has a direct connection to the story. It makes a bulletin more interesting to listeners, and it can help to build up the credibility of a broadcaster.
Often there is a musical theme, sometimes called a stab, to introduce the bulletin and separate different sections of the bulletin. This should be a short and dramatic piece of music that will catch the attention of the listener and will fit with the subject of the bulletin.
About the Author
