The news bulletin is a key part of your radio station’s profile. It is your chance to present a wide range of stories, headlines and actuality to your audience. The key considerations are balance and pace. If the bulletin contains too many long, complicated stories it can cause listeners to lose interest and switch off. On the other hand, a string of economic stories at the start of a bulletin could be seen as a dry and boring diet for the ears.
Your audience want information that will help them to understand their world. They want to know what is important to them and the things that they should care about. If you offer a mix of topics then your audience will be stimulated and they are more likely to tune in again the next day.
A grating voice will make listeners switch off, so your presenting style is crucial in ensuring that they return to the bulletin. It is worth recording a few bulletins to see whether your voice pleases the listener and, if not, do something about it.
You must remember that your bulletin is only as good as the stories that you have to report. Even the best newsreader will be unable to read every story in the world and you must choose carefully.
Try to avoid a ‘news diet’ of death and disaster. Your listeners may welcome a break from this kind of news, particularly at weekends.