A news flash is a short piece of breaking news that interrupts radio or television programming and updates audiences on current events. They can be local, national or international in scope and are a great way to keep listeners up to date on issues that affect them directly. News flashes don’t present opinion or analysis but should convey facts in a compelling manner.
A good newsflash starts with a powerful headline that accurately and enticingly reflects what the story is about. The lead paragraph fleshes out the headline and cites its sources. The nut graph that follows the lead is another great opportunity to add context and a bigger picture to show why this issue matters. A good newsflash also ends with a forward-looking element that shows how this subject matter will continue to have an impact on people’s lives.
Because a newsflash is so short, it must skate over some details and only focus on major stories. This is why it’s important to use the inverted pyramid style when drafting a newsflash: introduce the most crucial information first and build up the story from there. A well-written newsflash should also incorporate quotes from experts or witnesses to add credibility and perspective.
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