A news flash is a brief report on an important development that can be broadcast or published over the radio or television, online, or in print. It is usually a one or three minute piece in which you provide listeners with the latest information without putting an opinion on it. This type of article can be very effective for promoting a business to potential customers, so it is important to write an attention-grabbing news flash that is accurate and up to date.
A good news flash begins with a compelling headline that clearly and accurately reflects the topic of the article, and is written using the show-don’t-tell writing technique. The first paragraph, also called the lead, should be a narrative hook or anecdote that catches readers’ interest while providing a hint at the weightier argument and evidence that will come later in your newsflash. You should also include a nut graph, which adds context and ties the facts you introduce in your lead into a bigger picture that shows why your newsflash is significant and noteworthy.
Because newsflashes are so short, you must skate over details and focus on the most significant points. You can re-introduce important details in your supporting paragraphs, but be sure to cite your sources. A strong newsflash ends with a forward-looking element that shows why the topic will continue to be relevant. Then you can use the inverted pyramid style to prioritize your story’s information, presenting the most important details at the top of the article, followed by supporting details and a broader summary.