News bulletin is a short radio broadcast giving the bare facts of news stories (as opposed to more in-depth coverage in a full news programme). Writing for a news bulletin requires discipline: clarity, brevity and vividness are important. It’s also crucial to consider the audience; a local, regional or national audience will require different information to an international one. Ideally, it’s good to have a mix of stories.
The most important stories should be placed first, following the inverted pyramid format – the key facts (who, what, where, when and why) should be introduced at the top of the story, followed by a nut graph to add context and show how those details fit into a bigger picture. This helps to ensure that listeners will pick up the most important facts first. Incorporating quotes from experts or witnesses will help to add credibility and perspective, as well as break up the monotony of a longer news bulletin.
The length of a news bulletin should be carefully considered; too long and the audience may begin to lose interest or become distracted by other activities. It’s also helpful to keep in mind that the voice of the newsreader can play a role in how engaged the audience is; the more attractive and clear the voice, the more likely it is the audience will stay tuned. Finally, it’s important to avoid jargon and technical terms, and use plain language rather than patronising the audience.