ABSTRACT
L iving in a multi-media world means the news is more accessible than ever before through the internet and 24 hour rolling news channels, but it can still be argued that the immediacy of radio means it is eminently suited to delivering
news to its audience whether in the form of a newsflash about a breaking story, through presenters chatting about the latest celebrity news, as topics for phone-ins or discussion programmes, or in regularly scheduled news bulletins or magazine programmes. News in all its varied guises – from serious economic analysis to celebrity gossip – is an important part of the voice of a station, and the way it is used says a lot about a station’s brand values. This chapter examines the way news is used by different radio stations, how it is selected, and what components make up news programmes and bulletins. It ends with a brief analysis of two radio news bulletins to demonstrate how different stations provide a different ‘world’ to match their target audience.
