Abstract: A selective call receiver comprises a receiver for receiving a signal, the signal comprising an address identifying the selective call receiver, a first information packet having a first information format, a second information packet having a second information format, and a control character. An output device presents the first information packet in a first output mode corresponding to the first information format in response to the control character, and the second information packet in a second output mode corresponding to the second information format in response to the address or a second control character.