CHAPTER 5: NEWS
HIGHLIGHTS
1. A study by the Radio Television Digital News Association
indicates that News radio is second only to Country music radio
when listeners are searching for a station to listen to for
entertainment and information.
2. The size of a station’s news staff depends on the degree to
which the station’s format emphasizes news, the station’s
market size, the emphasis of its competition, and station
consolidations. Small stations often have no news people and
require deejays to use “rip ‘n’ read” wire service copy.
5. The news director, who works with and for the PD, supervises news staff, develops
and implements policy, handles the budget, ensures the gathering of local news, is
responsible for getting out breaking news stories rapidly and accurately and plans
public affairs programming. News directors also hold multiple jobs at some stations
depending on the size of the market in which the station is located.
6. News directors seek personnel with both college education and experience.
However, finding a news slot at a small station is difficult since its news staffs are
8. Actualities (on-the-scene voicers) are obtained from news service feeds, online
sources, and by station personnel at the scene.
9. The FCC expects broadcasters to report
the news in a balanced and impartial
manner. Although protected under the First Amendment, broadcasters making
reckless or false statements are subject to both civil and FCC charges.