A news bulletin is a compilation of stories that are of interest to the listeners. There is never enough time on the radio for all the stories a journalist would like to include, so it is important that the best stories are ranked according to their importance and that the bulletin has the right pace and structure. Too many slow, detailed stories may leave the audience breathless, while too much fast news might lose their interest completely. It is also important that the bulletin contains short recorded sound, called actuality, such as sounds of speeches or interviews with people who have a direct connection to the story.
It is good practice to headline dramatic stories at the beginning of the bulletin, announcing them in such a way that the listener will want to stay tuned to hear the full story. This is called teasing, and it is a valuable technique in keeping the audience interested and listening. It is also a good idea to give the full name of a person who has died, if this is known.
The opening theme of the bulletin should be a short musical piece that is designed to attract attention and create an atmosphere. It is also possible to use music in other places within the bulletin, but these must be brief and should not interfere with the reading of the actual news. These short pieces of music are sometimes called stabs or stings, and they can be produced by many record companies specialising in electronic themes.