A news bulletin is a brief, up-to-date summary of the day’s news and current affairs. It is broadcast over the air, on the internet and on radio, and it is often accompanied by pictures and video clips. A good bulletin has the right balance of stories, with a mix of hard and soft news. It should also have the right pace, with some stories being shorter and more intense than others. It is important to know your audience’s interests and concerns when preparing a bulletin. Too many stories on serious issues might make listeners switch off, while too much light news might bore them. The lead story is crucial, as it will determine whether listeners stay tuned or switch off. It must be eye-catching and suggest the drama of the story, using a headline which promotes it to your listeners.
The rest of the bulletin should include short recordings called actuality, such as speeches or interviews with people who have a direct connection to the stories. These are very useful to add credibility and a personal touch to your bulletin, as well as to break up the monotony of long readings.
It is important for the newsreader to be confident and convincing, without being overly confident or arrogant. A grating voice can cause listeners to switch off. It is best to practise rehearsing the bulletin in front of a friend or colleague, who can time how long it takes you to read each line. Once you have this figure, practice ten times with a different script to get an average reading rate.