The news bulletin is a very important part of a radio or television programme. It is essential that it consists of a balanced selection of stories which is well presented. The key factors are order and pace. Too many long stories will slow the bulletin down and may lead listeners to switch off. There should be a variation in pace at different times of the bulletin, with some sections being slower to allow the audience to catch their breath or to make them feel more interested, and other parts faster to keep up interest.
It is also important to have the right balance between stories relating to general interest and those of local or regional interest. Some people will listen to the whole bulletin but others will tune in for a particular section. For this reason it is a good idea to run a short headline at the beginning of each bulletin which promotes the main stories. This is known as a lead item and should be of the highest importance.
Always take more copy into the studio than you think you will need, as this will provide a reserve in case of any misjudgment or problem with the piece of audio. This is a good idea for any bulletin but particularly at weekends when there are fewer stories available. Keep glancing at the clock throughout the bulletin to make sure that you don’t overrun your time limit.