A news flash is a quick piece of breaking news that interrupts radio or TV programming and updates listeners on current events. It can be local, national or international and is a great way to keep listeners informed about topics that affect them directly. The subject matter of a newsflash can be anything from a fire to a presidential decree and the article itself should not include opinions or analysis but rather focus on factual information.
The first paragraph of a newsflash is known as the lead and is the anchor’s first chance to grab readers’ attention and draw them into the article. Using a narrative hook or anecdote is a great way to do this. This paragraph should also flesh out the headline, providing additional details and citing sources. It is important to follow the inverted pyramid style when writing a newsflash; introduce the most relevant facts first and then add more details as necessary. A nut graph should tie the facts introduced in the lead together to show how they fit into a bigger picture. Finally, a newsflash should conclude with a forward-looking element that shows how this story will remain pertinent in the future.
A good newsflash should last between one and three minutes. If a story will be developed at length in the midday or evening bulletin, it is helpful to announce this in the newsflash so listeners can tune into those segments. Additionally, a newsflash should give listeners practical information such as traffic and weather and occasionally broadcast a short soundbite or a voicer (a kicker). It is also useful to end a newsflash with something humorous, to lighten the mood after a serious topic.
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