The news bulletin is a key feature of radio broadcasting. Listeners expect a mix of stories; some heavy, some light and some about major world events, but also local news and issues affecting their lives. The order or balance of stories within the bulletin will depend to some extent on station format – serious national broadcasters tend to produce more serious news bulletins, with more political and economic stories, for example, while youth-oriented music stations might have more stories about pop culture.

A good way to maintain audience interest in the bulletin is by using grabs of actuality – recorded sound clips from interviews or speeches – which add credibility and excitement. But be careful how many you use – too few and the audience will think your news is bogus; too many and you will lose their attention.

Especially important is the lead story at the start of the bulletin – it is by far the most important in terms of keeping listeners tuned to the whole bulletin. It should be a dramatic story, with a headline that hints at the drama but does not give the story away. Often a dramatic story will be followed by a second grab to make the impact even greater.

The closing story – sometimes called a tail-ender – is a light or funny story which adds relief to the news and helps to keep listeners listening all the way to the end of the bulletin. It should be short and may well be a play on words, but should not merely be a repetition of the opening theme (you do not want your listeners to think they have heard the same story twice).