PECULIAR FEATURES OF RADIO NEWS BROADCASTING: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF “ERA FM” AND “BBC RADIO 5 LIFE” RADIO STATIONS

The paper studies topicality of news on the radio in the age of digital media, and states that the mission of news on the radio remains unchanged – informing people of all that happened in the world, the country, the region, the city. The article points out that only the form of giving the news and specific nature of the information department work may vary. The research proves that the format of giving the news should go in unison with the time, correspond with the broadcasting region and appeal to the listeners that the radio station is aimed at, known as a target audience. The paper analyses news content of the “Era FM” and “BBC Radio 5 Life” radio stations, and singles out the differences in the activity of editorial offices of both radio stations, the most significant of which include: presenting the news at both stations, first of all, differs in the quality of sound materials on air due to technical equipment of both radio station studios; radio hosts’ manner of reading out the news. Radio station “BBC Radio 5 Live” strayed from the common format of news presenting when it is read out in a smooth, monotonous tone with a smooth, correct intonation. Instead, they came over to a new format when the news is like a light conversation between two intelligent presenters. Thus, for the time being, “Era-FM” sticks to a traditional format of presenting. Clear, smooth and correct intonations of news presenters are unchanged. The Ukrainian listeners have got used to them, and it makes the news on the radio station special. News style at “Era-FM” is more like the language of press releases, while at “BBC Radio 5 Life” the messages are light, short, simple and understandable for the listeners. The authors point out the following recommendations for the Ukrainian radio station personnel: 1) it is worth straying from the “press release” style of news presentation, and adjust them more to the listeners; 2) the journalists should avoid large accumulation of numbers in the news items as they hinder perceiving and understanding the information; 3) if possible, it is necessary to control recruitment and prevent unedited news items prepared by fledgling journalists from going on the air; 4) the first thing to be highlighted in the news is the news itself, and not the events; 5) present more news in the “light” format; 6) increase a share of international information in the news; 7) broaden the network of correspondents; 8) hold more opinion polls on relevant topics and broadcast them; 9) create a new and more modern background music; 10) add interactivity on air; 11) develop good publicity, post materials from the news items on the website and on the pages in social networking websites; 1). understand their audience better by means of keeping in touch, communication, organizing public events where the staff can get to know their target audience.