This how-to guide is designed to help journalists produce an informative radio news bulletin that meets the needs of the listeners.
It’s based on the MHM article ‘Producing a radio news bulletin’ by Beat Witschi, which we suggest you read before applying the checklist below.
When you produce a news bulletin for the radio, you are like a chef preparing a meal. The information must be easy to digest, well-balanced, and useful for your listeners.
Because people often listen to the radio while doing other things, your news must be clear and direct. Follow this checklist to ensure your bulletin is professional and engaging:
- [ ] Identify your audience
Think about who is listening. Choose stories that are relevant to their daily lives rather than just picking the biggest global headlines. See our MHM article ‘Audience research and segmentation‘. - [ ] Put the most important story first
Start with the news that has the biggest impact on your listeners so they hear it even if they cannot stay for the whole bulletin. See our MHM article ‘Essential elements of a news story‘. - [ ] Include different voices. Do not just talk to people in power. Find regular people who are affected by the news and include their voices to add variety. See our MHM article on ‘Diversity in journalism‘.
- [ ] Check your tone of voice
Listen back to your recordings. Ensure your voice is pleasant and natural. Avoid sounding like you are singing or patronising your listeners. See our MHM article ‘Adjectives and adverbs in journalism‘. - [ ] Keep it brief
Only include essential information. It is better to have a short, high-quality bulletin than a long one filled with unnecessary details. See our MHM article ‘Clarity is as important as accuracy‘. - [ ] Read at a steady pace
Do not rush, even if you are nervous. If there is a difficult name to say, practice it first and mark your script where you need to breathe. - [ ] Refresh your news
Do not read the exact same script an hour later. Rewrite your headlines and top stories to keep the bulletin feeling fresh for people listening throughout the day. See our MHM article ‘Editing radio news bulletins‘ by Jaldeep Katwala. - [ ] Use sound bites wisely
Use short audio clips of people speaking. This makes your news more believable and more interesting to listen to. - [ ] Write simple sentences
Write as if you are telling a story to a friend. Use short, clear sentences with a subject, a verb, and an object. - [ ] Avoid jargon
Do not try to use clever or complicated words. Use simple terms that everyone can understand immediately. See our MHM article on ‘Clichés, journalese, and jargon‘ by John Allen. - [ ] Be honest
Never try to make a story sound more dramatic than it is. If you lose the trust of your audience, it is very hard to win it back. See our MHM articles on ‘Winning audience trust and loyalty‘, and ‘Integrity in journalism‘.
Producing a news bulletin for radio is a special skill that takes practice, but if you keep your listener in mind at all times, you will soon find your rhythm. Keep your sentences short and your delivery steady, and you will become a voice your community trusts.
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