A news flash is an important and timely piece of news that keeps your audience updated on current events. It can be local, national or international and can include a mix of hard and soft news. A news flash is not the place to bring opinion or analysis – only facts. It is also not the place to repeat a story that will be developed at length in other parts of your broadcast (such as in the midday or evening bulletin).
The first paragraph of a news flash, often referred to as the lead, is your chance to grab readers’ attention and entice them into the full article. A narrative hook or anecdote is often a good way of doing this, as it simultaneously captures reader interest and encapsulates the subject in a creative and interesting manner. Citing your sources at the end of the lead is also a good idea to give credibility and legitimacy to the piece.
Typically a news flash lasts between one and three minutes. Because of its short length, it’s important to ensure that your information is as concise as possible while maintaining accuracy and clarity. This means avoiding the use of jargon and describing events in a straightforward manner if the subject matter is hard, or using a more narrative style if the subject matter is human interest.
Because of its short length, the newsflash usually skates over some of the details – only major stories belong in this type of article. That is why it’s vital to follow the inverted pyramid style, introducing the most crucial facts at the top of the article and then revealing more detail as you go along.
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