A news bulletin is a short broadcast that updates listeners on current events. It can be on local, national or international issues. It may last from seconds to hours, and can include a mixture of current affairs stories and lighter pieces.

Radio news bulletins should be concise and focused to ensure that the audience receives the most important information in a short period of time. The stories should be ranked in order of importance and the timing of each one must be carefully considered, ensuring that the bulletin maintains pace throughout the duration. It is also good to have variations in pace, slower at times to allow the listeners to catch their breath or faster at other moments to re-engage their interest.

Often, radio news bulletins will include short recordings of actuality (or grabs) which are the sound of people speaking, such as speech excerpts or interviews. These help to add credibility and a personal touch to the bulletin and can be used as an alternative to written copy.

Often, a musical theme will be used to announce the start of a news bulletin and may also be used within the bulletin itself to separate different segments. These are known as stabs and are often produced by record companies to provide a range of styles for news bulletins. It is good practice to have an opening theme and also a closing theme, as it can create a link between stories, and give the bulletin structure and consistency.