A news bulletin is a brief report on current events or announcements, broadcast for the purpose of informing and entertaining listeners. News bulletins may range from seconds to hours and can vary in focus, with some covering mainly international or national issues, others giving more attention to local events. They are typically read by professional newsreaders and produced in a studio.

A good news bulletin will include a mixture of stories, some serious and others lighter in tone, and there should be a balance between international, national and regional news. The order of the stories will depend to some extent on the format of the station; serious national broadcasters tend to use heavier stories delivered in a more deliberate style, while youth-oriented music stations will be lighter and may include stories about pop culture.

It is important to write clear and concise stories for the bulletin, especially for radio where listeners may be driving or working while listening. Attempting to fit too many stories into a limited timeframe can confuse the audience and cause them to switch off.

It’s also advisable to use short pieces of actuality in the bulletin, particularly when the stories are about people or places, to add interest and credibility. This type of sound clip is usually a recorded interview or speech and is known as a grab.

When preparing the bulletin for air, it is a good idea to read each story through several times to make sure that they are as concise and clear as possible. It is also a good idea to add up the total reading time for each story and write this on the bottom right-hand corner of the page, as it will be useful later when timing each item for the bulletin.