The news bulletin is the heart of any radio or television station’s daily broadcast. It should be fresh and dynamic, enticing listeners to return throughout the day to hear more. Listeners expect to hear a mix of stories, some heavy and some light, with the emphasis on local and regional issues as well as national affairs. They also expect to see their own country or town represented and they like a bit of humour in amongst the serious reporting.
A special theme should be used to announce the bulletin and may occasionally be used within the bulletin to link different sections. This is known as an opening theme and many record companies produce a selection of electronic or instrumental themes for this purpose.
Short segments of actuality (recorded sound from interviews or speeches) should be included to add credibility and interest to the bulletin. They can also be used to break up the monotony of a long bulletin and can increase the pace. These are called grabs and they can be used without overdubbing if the language is simple and you know that your listeners will understand them.
Urgent news which arrives just before a bulletin goes to air should be read at the appropriate point in the bulletin, but not at the start or end of the bulletin. Closing headlines should remind listeners of the major stories which have been reported during the bulletin. This is especially important with longer bulletins, where the audience has tuned in to a different part of the programme.