Don’t Just Read the News — Own It

This is the ultimate radio news story selection and delivery playbook designed for music stations and personality-driven formats.

Let’s be honest.  Most music stations don’t lose listeners because of music. They lose them because of bad news breaks.  Why?

They are too long.  Too stiff. Too irrelevant. Too “meanwhile, in Brussels…”

News on a music or personality-driven station isn’t about proving you read the wire. It’s about proving you understand your listener.  Here’s a sharper, smarter checklist to make sure your news adds value — not exits.

1. Story Selection – Does The Story Actually Matter?

Before you open the mic, ask:

• Does this appeal to our target audience (age, gender, lifestyle)?
• Does it fit our brand — our mood, music, and personality?
• Does it impact local lives (safety, commute, weather, schools, outages, events)?
• Would our listeners care, react, or talk about this today?
• Is it relevant right now — immediate, emotional, useful?
• Am I avoiding off-brand filler (distant disasters, obscure policy debates, random global trivia)?

If the story doesn’t pass the “Would my listener text this to a friend?” test, it probably doesn’t belong.  Your goal is not to sound important; it’s to sound relevant.

2. Story Order – Build Momentum, Not Melatonin

The order of stories matters. Energy matters. Flow matters.

• Lead with the #1 water-cooler story — the “big event” that people will talk about today.
• Put local impact stories near the top.
• Place lighter, lifestyle, or format-friendly items in the middle.
• End with a quick-hit weather or local update.
• Keep each story to 2–3 sentences. Momentum beats monologues.

You’re not hosting a documentary. You’re delivering usable information between great songs. Short. Punchy. Move on.

3. Writing – Tight Is Right

Radio writing is not print writing. It’s not a term paper. And it’s definitely not a city council memo.

• Start with a headline sentence — the hook.
• Write short sentences. Simple words.
• Avoid long numbers, complex stats, and government jargon.
• Eliminate filler (no one needs “in other news…”).
• One idea per story. Then get out.

If you can’t read it in one breath, it’s too long.  If you sound like a press release, you probably are one.

4. Delivery – Sound Human, Not “News-y”

This is where many stations lose it.

• Tell the story conversationally — don’t cold-read.
• Use everyday language.
• Avoid stiff words like officials, authorities, incidents, or sources indicate.
• Imagine telling a friend on a park bench.
• Keep the energy warm and connected.

You’re not auditioning to anchor the 6 o’clock TV news.  You’re the trusted friend in the passenger seat. And please — smile while you read. Listeners can hear it.

5. Format Noters – Match the Content to the Audience

Not all stories fit all formats. Know your crowd. 

Female-leaning formats:  Safety, family, kids, health, relationships, community, local businesses.

Male-leaning formats:  Conflict, accountability, politics, crime, sports, money. 

Younger targets: Trends, influencers, tech, lifestyle, pop culture.

This isn’t stereotyping — it’s targeting.  If you ignore format fit, you dilute brand clarity.

The Real Goal. 

Be relevant.  Be local.  Be memorable.  News on a music station should enhance the brand — not interrupt it.  If it informs, connects, or helps your listener today — keep it.  If it doesn’t?  Cut it.  Because the fastest way to lose a music listener is to bore them in 30 seconds flat.

Pic designed by ArthurHidden for Magnific.com.

John Lund is President of the Lund Media Group, a radio programming, broadcast consulting, and research firm with specialists in all mainstream radio formats.