A news flash is a short piece of breaking news that interrupts radio or TV broadcasts and updates listeners on current events. It can be about local, national or international issues and is a great way to keep audiences up to date on topics that affect them directly.
A good news flash starts with a compelling headline that accurately and enticingly reflects what the article is about. A lead (also known as a flash or lede) should then flesh out the headline, providing context for the subject and citing sources. If time permits, a nut graph can also be included, which ties the facts introduced in the lead to a bigger picture to show why they matter and what direction the story is going in.
It is important to note that newsflashes are not the place for opinions on a subject; they should be factual, and it is often a good idea to use narrative hooks or anecdotes as a means of capturing readers’ attention. When writing a newsflash, always make sure to follow the inverted pyramid style, which means conveying the most crucial information first, and then adding more detail as necessary. If possible, it is recommended to include a quote from an expert or witness to add credibility and perspective.
Finally, when naming people in the lead and in captions, it is important to use their full first names or both initials to avoid jarring readers with abrupt switches between the first and second person. Also, remember to use the technique of “show, don’t tell” when describing an event; for example, rather than saying that Johnny was tired after running up a hill, say that his legs were shaking and his breathing heavy.