Conventions Found within News Bulletins

Having listened to lots of new bulletins from many different radio stations, I've noticed that often stories presentational devices that help illustrate an elaborate upon points made in the stories and help bring bring the stories to like for the listeners

Different devices I have heard include:

Voxpops:
A member of the public commenting on the story - often a story will include a number of voxpops which have been chosen because they offer an alternative viewpoint.

I found and example on this on Magic FM from the 6th February. The news presenter is speaking about the tube strike and then cuts to a clip of a member of the public complaining about how difficult it has been to get home in the car, when it is a lot easier on the tube.

Correspondent:
Often, the news presenter will cut to a specialist correspondent (either live or pre-recorded) who is in a different location (possibly at the scene where the story is taking place). The correspondent will deliver extra information about the story.

I found an example of this on Radio 2 from the 4th February where the news presenter is speaking about a man who was jailed for leading a kidnapping and then cuts to a clip of correspondent, Jim Reid, who reports even more information on the story.

Soundbite:
An audio clip (usually pre recorded) from somebody who has involvement with the story, usually in a professional capacity. The soundbite could come from the person who the story is about.

An example of this is a clip that was played on Radio 2 on February 4th of Bob Crow who is the head of the RMT talking about the 48 hour tube strike.

Outside Broadcast:
The presenter will cut to a correspondent or reporter who is broadcasting from the scene where the story has occurred. This can be live or prerecorded.

I found an example of this on Magic FM from 3rd February where the news presenter is speaking about  the death of Phillip Seymour Hoffman and then says 'Rachel Jewel reports' where it then cuts to whats sounds like a prerecorded voice of a reporter who is delivering further information about the story.

Experts/Guests:
Often a story will include the opinion of an expert in the field the story relates to. They may be a guest in the studio, or, their soundbite will be recorded at the scene, or, we may here it in the form of a phone call.

I found an example of this on BBC 2 from 4th February where the news presenter is speaking about cancer and then cuts to a clip of Dr Christopher Wild, who is an expert on cancer, speaking.

Now when I come to right my news stories I know to include these things. I'm going to think carefully about which presentational devices would be most appropriate for which stories.

Similarities and Differences Between Stations

As excepted, there were a number of stories that appeared on more than one of the radio stations even though the stations are targeting completely different audiences.

What I found from this listening task is that some stories are likely to be so big that they will appear on all radio stations. Stories that I heard on more than one station were about the payday loan, and the Chancellor and RBS.

Whereas others will appear because they appeal to the audience.

When I come to write my news bulletin I'm going to include a mix of stories - some that are universal but also some that will appear to my target audience.

Comparing News Bulletins - Magic FM 7:30am News

Order of news stories:

Story 1 -
Claimed nearly 1 million people took out a payday loan last year to help pay their rent or mortgage.

Focus -
Shelter said survey reveal 1/5 borrowed cash
Sometimes from friends and family to keep a roof over their heads.

News values -
Amplitude: It involves many people
Personalisation: It concerns people's personal finances
Negativity: It is about how people struggle to pay for basic housing which is very negative

Story 2 -
Chancellor under pressure to block a move by the Royal Bank of Scotland to double the amount it's allowed to pay out in bankers bonuses

Focus -
The Financial Times claims the state owned bank will try to invoke in a rule allowing them to do it if shareholders approve

News values -
Immediacy: The Times have just announced its under pressure.
Familiarity: It's taking place in this country.
Amplitude: It effects large numbers of people
Impact: People are affected by the backing crisis
Predictable: It is predictable that the Chancellor would try stop this act.
Continuity: It is part of the ongoing banking crisis
Conflict: Between the banks, the chancellor, and the public.
Elite people: The Chancellor is well known.

Story 3 -
There's been an increase in the number of people having their possessions stolen by pick pockets

Focus -
Figures show 8% rise in the crime in the last year

News values -
Immediacy:
Familiarity: It is figures in the UK
Amplitude: We are all potential victims of pick pockets
Frequency: Crime figures are released on a regular basis
Impact: Fears of being a victim of time
Predictability: We are use to crime figures going up
Negativity: It is a negative story.

Story 4 -
Andy Murray is unsure how his body will cope with 5 set matches at the Australian Open

Focus -
He will be playing frenchman Vincent Millot in the 2nd round tomorrow after beating Go Soeda
He has only just returned to action after having back surgery, and was pleased to get off court quickly in the Melbourne heat

(murray talks)

News values -

Story 5 -
The Co-Operative has come up with a biodegradable carrier bag which can be turned into compost

Focus -
The bag is 6 pence and the store says it is strong enough to carry the shopping but afterwards can be used as liners for food waste bins

News values -
Immediacy: It has just been announced
Familiarity: It is taking place here
Surprise: It is surprising that you can recycle a bag
Balance: It is a good story

Comparing News Bulletins - talkSPORT FM 7:30am News

Order of news stories:

Story 1 
1/5 borrowed money to help pay off mortgage or rent in the last year.

Focus
This is according to a housing charity.
Shelter says some turned to family or friends but claims nearly a million took out a payday loan.

News values 
Amplitude: It has affected a lot of people, 1/5 have needed to borrow money and nearly a million took out a payday loan.
Surprise: It is quite a shock and unexpected that so many people were in this bad position.
Negativity: It is bad that so many people have had to borrow money to pay off certain things.

Story 2 
The Chancellor is under pressure to block a move by the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Focus 
He is being asked to reject their request of doubling bankers' bonuses.

News values
Conflict: It involves a political disagreement.
Elite people: The Chancellor is a leading politician.
Personalisation: It concerns how much wealthy people are paid.

Story 3 
22 year old man arrested over murder of a woman

Focus
He killed Valerie Graves who was house sitting for friends
She was found dead in a property in Boshom in West Sussex on December 30th

News values 
Familiarity: West Sussex is geographically close to where some listeners live.
Negativity: It is a very sad and scary story.

Story 4 
A Danish tourist has been raped by a gang in New Delhi.

Focus 
She was near a popular central shopping area of New Delhi after she became lost and asked them for directions back to her hotel.
It's the latest case to focus international attention on rape and violence against women in India.

News values
Continuity: This is the latest in a series of news stories involving violence against women in India.
Personalisation: It is a human interest story.
Negativity: This is a very scary and sad story.

Story 5 
Emotional victory for Ross Hutchins on his return to Grand Slam action at the Australian open tennis.

Focus 
He returned to Grand Slam action at the Australian open tennis.
He missed the entire 2013 season after being diagnosed with and then fighting Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

News values 
Elite people: He is a well known tennis player.
Personalisation: It concerns the health of a sports celebrity.
Good news: It is very good and happy news that he is better.

Comparing News Bulletins - Radio 2 7:30am News

Order of news stories:

Story 1
Labour party asks government to reject request by RBS to double the cap on bankers bonuses.

Focus
Under EU laws, banks can pay bonuses of up to twice an employees salary, if share holders agree.
RBS is predominantly state owned.

News values 
Familiarity: This is happening in England therefore it is geographically close
Conflict: It is a political disagreement
Personalisation: It is a human interest story as it is about how much people are paid

Story 2 
Chancellor, George Osborne, will warn this morning that a failure to reform the European Union and renegotiate membership terms risks leading to economic crisis and continuing decline.

Focus 
In a speech to a conference in London he'll conclude that we can't afford to go on as we are

News values 
Familiarity: The EU's member states are located in Europe, which is geographically close.
Amplitude: It affects everyone living in Europe.
Impact: The risk of economic crisis could impact a vast amount of people across Europe.
Elite people: George Osborne is very well-known.
Negativity: An economic crisis would be extremely bad and negative.

Story 3
A 22 year old man arrested on suspicion of murdering a woman in west Sussex over Christmas

Focus 
Valerie Graves, 55, was murdered in west Sussex over Christmas
She was beaten to death in a bedroom whilst housesitting

News values 
Familiarity: West Sussex is geographically close to some listeners of this programme
Personalisation: It is a human interest story as it evokes emotion and fear
Negativity: This is a crime story and is very sad

Story 4 
Council leaders in Birmingham to discuss which asset to sell off to fund legal bills to former employees

Focus 
They are meeting later this week
The city council has to compensate thousands of women who worked at the same grade as men for much less pay

News values 
Familiarity: It is geographically close to listeners in the West Midlands
Amplitude: It involves thousands of people

Comparing News Bulletins on Different Radio Stations

Having looked at news stories online, I'm now going to listen to new bulletins presented on the radio. At this stage I'm not sure exactly what kind of radio station mine will be so I'm going to listen to a range of different new bulletins on different radio stations to see if the news is presented in a consistent way on radio or to see if the genre of radio station affects the type of news story and the way they are presented.

I have chosen news bulletins from 3 different radio stations, Radio 2, TalkSport and Magic, from the same time and the same day. I managed to do this by going on each of their websites and used their 'listen again', which I recorded on my phone as well. This worked, however in the future I am going to download the app 'tune in radio' on my phone which will allow me to record any radio at any time.

The things I am going to compare are; the running order of stations so that I can see if the stories are the same or different, the facts of the stories, are they focusing on the same elements, and what the news values are of each story.

Similarities and Differences between Local Stories and National Stories

Because I will be creating a local radio station, I wanted to see if if local news was presented in the same way as national news.

National newspaper: The Telegraph

Local newspaper: Ham & High

I found the following similarities:

- Both national and local news includes the 5 W's at the beginning
- Both contain a range of news values
- Frequently both national and local news stories include quotes from experts, commentators or members of the public (often towards the end of the story)

I found the following differences:

- The news values that drive the story are often different. Local news stories tend to be dominated by familiarity whilst impact, elite people, and amplitude are more commonly found in national news.
- The stories that appear on national news often seem bigger, whereas many of the stories in local news seem small and less significant.
- If the same type of story appears in both local and national news there is often a completely different slant on the story - local stories will focus on how it effects the community.