A news bulletin is a brief announcement of current events, normally broadcast over radio or television. Typically, the bulletin contains a mixture of headlines (or “stories”), weather forecasts, traffic reports and political commentary. Some broadcasters may also include live or recorded interviews with expert commentators and opinionated journalists.
A broadcaster’s choice of stories depends on its target audience. A bulletin is often used to give the bare facts of news events before more depth is added in a full programme, such as a two or three-minute summary or the main evening news broadcast. The defining skill required in composing a bulletin is to prioritise and order the stories in a way that will be most interesting and relevant to the audience. This requires journalism skills – being clear, concise and factual – as well as editing skills.
Some of the biggest news broadcasters in the world are global and provide generalist news coverage across a range of topics. Others specialise in one or more areas, such as sport, business, national and regional news, social developments and culture, and focus their coverage primarily on those topics.
Creating a good news bulletin is like preparing a meal that will leave the audience nourished and ready for the day. A good news reader or presenter is essential as they will be the face of the bulletin and a major factor in whether listeners return. It is important that they have a pleasing voice and avoid grating tones or pronunciation. They should also use simple language and avoid using jargon or technical terms unless they are needed to convey information clearly.
About the Author
