A news bulletin is an announcement of important events in short form, typically broadcast on radio or television. It is not the same as a full news programme or newspaper, and may be broadcast live or pre-recorded from a studio newsroom, in which case it might be accompanied by onscreen graphics and text. News bulletins are usually presented by a team of presenters, some with journalistic skills and others in other professional roles (such as floor directors or audio engineers).
Bulletins can be presented as either audio only, or both audio and video, or with graphics, depending on the medium and the audience. Those presenting on air must be clear and concise, and avoid using words that could be misunderstood; the use of jargon is discouraged. The length of a bulletin should be limited to the amount of information that can be effectively delivered in a relatively short time, as the audience is unlikely to have the opportunity to listen to the whole thing. A good newsreader will also avoid rushing, practice difficult pronunciations, and mark pauses in his or her script to ensure clarity of delivery and to maintain a steady pace.
Including sound bites, such as phone-in interviews or brief audio clips of people who have witnessed events, makes a bulletin more interesting and credible to the listener. However, it is important that all sounds have an editorial reason for being included; they should not simply fill up space. It is also important to remember that an audience tuning in for a local, regional or national bulletin will have different information needs from those tuning in to cover global news events.
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