A news flash is a brief piece of breaking news that keeps your audience up to date on current events. It can be local, national or international and can include both hard and soft news. News flashes are short, usually one to three minutes and consist of only copy, so it’s essential to convey the important details quickly and succinctly.
The first paragraph of a news flash, known as the lead, is your chance to grab readers’ attention and draw them into the story. The best way to do this is by using a narrative hook or anecdote that simultaneously captures readers’ interest and entices them to delve deeper into the subject. It’s also a good idea to cite your sources at the end of the lead to add credibility and legitimacy to your article.
Newsflashes are limited to 6 to 10 news items so it’s imperative that you deliver these stories in a clear, concise and compelling manner. It’s also important to avoid repetition of the same stories that are already covered in other parts of the broadcast such as the midday or evening bulletins.
The briefness of a newsflash forces writers to skate over some details, but it’s vital to convey the most important information at the top and then add more detail as you go along. In addition, a newsflash should include a nut graph that adds context and ties the main points together to show how they relate to each other.
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