A good news bulletin has the right balance of stories and a pace that keeps listeners interested. Too many long complicated stories may lose listeners and too few short sharp stories could make the bulletin seem boring and monotonous. The first three or four stories are the most important and the headlines for these should be attractive and eye-catching. They should suggest the drama of the story without giving away all the details. Many stations also like to have one dramatic story that comes later in the bulletin on the assumption that listeners will stay tuned for the rest of the bulletin to hear it.
A quick and efficient way to keep the audience listening is to include short recorded sound called actuality which adds credibility to a story. This can be in the form of the sound of a speech, a report or an interview. It can also be a short audio clip which is inserted into the story or as a separate 20 or 25 second piece of music.
A few short light or funny stories, often called tail-enders, are useful as a change of pace and to remind listeners of stories they have already heard. They can also provide a suitable close to the bulletin. You should give these stories special attention as they are the last thing your audience will hear and they must have a good impact. It is a good idea to look at the tail-enders from time to time to see if any can be pushed forward or slipped back to give a fresher feel to the bulletin.