a review of News compilation, functioning of news compilation in Radio Journalism

1. NEWS
COMPILATION
By
Pradeep Kumar Gupta
Deptt of Animation CCSIT, TMU
College of Journalism and Mass Communicatio
Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad

2. COMPILATION OF NEWS BULLETIN
The recent past has witnessed an explosion in the number of news
media serving the audience all over the world. Obviously news is an
important commodity for all kind of public. Before anything becomes
news, however it must be filtered through the eyes and ears of the
a journalist. A reporter must be aware of "utilities that characteristic of a
news story, the types of news that exist, and the difference in the way
the various media cover news. from the million of things happen every
day, print, broadcast, telecast and online journalist decide which few
things are worth reporting. In addition to five traditional elements of
timeliness, proximity, prominence, consequence and human interest of
news value, economic plays a vital role now. First, some stories cost
more to cover than others. Conversely after spending a large sum of
money pursuing in a story, the news channel might run it, even if it had
little traditional news value, simply to justify its cost to the management.

3. COMPILATION OF NEWS BULLETIN
All India Radio (AIR) News Services Division gets news items from its
own correspondents and news agencies, PTI and UNI. After that
compilation the News process start, the news pool is sorted out into
following categories.
Pool Copy.
Keeping in view the target audience, MR has introduced a system of
what is called new-spool. The News Room has four shifts during a day-
morning, day time, evening and night. Each shift issues its own pool
copy in English. After editing, the selected news is put into the pool split
into different categories such as Home, Foreign, Parliament and Sports.
Inclusion of an item in the pool means:
 The news is broadcast worthy,
 It has already been written in broadcast style and
 Any linkages arid back-grounding required has been done.

4. COMPILATION OF NEWS BULLETIN
The pool copy is distributed among all editors compiling different
bulletins. The editors preparing the pool copy also constantly keep a tab
of important developing stories and revise and update them. They also
prepare round-ups of important events and happenings such as
elections, train accidents, clashes, floods, bomb blasts and other
disturbances.
 Compiling News Bulletins.
Keeping in view the duration of each bulletin and the interest of the
target audience, the editors who compile the bulletin further select and
prune the news items. They prepare the bulletins and send them to the
Language Units and the External Services Units where language editors
translate the news items and put out in their languages. News in
different languages should be written keeping in view the diction, style
and flow of the language. The language bulletin should also keep in
mind the requirements, tradition and culture of the people.

5. COMPILATION OF NEWS BULLETIN
Selecting the Headlines.
After the bulletin is prepared, the Editor decides which items apart
from the lead story are to be headlined. Generally, the Editor selects
headlines keeping in view the interest of the listeners. All bulletins have
different headlines. The headlines given for Urdu bulletin will not be the
same for Oriya bulletin. Radio headlines should be brief and written in
simple language. Headlines are generally repeated as quite often many
listeners tune in late and only from the repeat headlines do they know
the important news of the day.
All items which figure in the headlines must be included in the news
bulletin. Details about the main news items are provided after the
headlines are read.

6. COMPILATION OF NEWS BULLETIN
Use of Spoken Language in the News Bulletins on Radio.
Radio news bulletin should be clear, precise and to the point.
Sentences should be short and direct. Brevity is essential as there is a
time limit. In a 10 minute news bulletin covering world, national and
regional news, there will be about 1000 to 1100 words. News should be
in crisp and easily understood language.
Clarity through the use of simple words.
News for radio bullet should be written in simple language as
everyday speech. For example, write “The work has started” in stead of
“the work has commenced”. “Officialese” should not be used in bulletins
(officialese is the language used in official press notes). The words
chosen should create visual images in the mind “Roads are under water”
or “The telegraph poles have been uprooted” or “The bridges have been
washed away” sound better than “The communications have been
disrupted”.

7. COMPILATION OF NEWS BULLETIN
Short Sentences.
Never use long sentences in radio bulletin. Do not use complex
sentences. Avoid subordinate clauses. Sentences should be written in
18 to 20 words. Split the long sentences. Put only one idea into one
sentence. A news items should not be more than 90 or 100 words. Some
items can be even shorter.
Present Tense.
The present tense should be used wherever it is possible say “They
have shifted to the new center” instead of saying “They shifted to the
new center”,
Try to use minimum figures. Too many figures confuse the listeners.
Also, use round figures. Say “about 50 crore” and not “513,879,968”.
Explain technical words. For example, the right of Habeas Corpus,
means that the authorities must bring the suspect before the Judge.
The arrangement in news writing is the reverse of the literary style of
writing. The lead, or the climax, should come first in the news bulletin

8. COMPILATION EDITOR
A Compilation Editor is
person, contributing to a
collective or aggregate work by
selecting and putting together
news, or parts of news, by one
or more reporter or resource.
Radio compilation
editors review information and
content in order to help
manage radio productions.
Some editors may be a part of
the news team and be
responsible for reporting on air.
... Additionally, radio
editors also work with the
production team in order to
develop ideas for radio shows.