A news flash is a piece of breaking news that keeps your audience updated on current events. They can be local, national or international and can include a mix of hard and soft news.
Like the news crawler that scrolls across a TV screen, or the ticker that appears on a radio or newspaper, a news flash interrupts a program to inform viewers of important events. Unlike a news crawler or ticker, however, a newsflash often takes the form of a short article that only consists of copy. This makes it very important to be clear and concise in a newsflash.
The first paragraph of a newsflash is known as the lead. This is your chance to grab readers’ attention and draw them in so that they keep listening to the whole article. You can do this by using a narrative hook or anecdote that simultaneously captivates readers’ interest and entices them to learn more about the topic. It’s also a good idea to cite your sources at the end of the lead, which lends credibility and legitimacy to the information you are conveying.
Because a newsflash is short, it has to skate over details. Therefore, only major stories belong in a newsflash. It’s also important to remember that a newsflash is not the place to present opinion or analysis. It’s all about facts first and foremost.
A newsflash is limited to 6 to 10 news items, so it’s vital to deliver these in a clear and compelling manner.