A news flash is a short piece of important and timely information that interrupts a regular broadcast and can be seen or heard on the radio, TV or online. It is a great way to keep the audience updated about local, national or international developments without taking up a lot of time. A good newsflash starts with a catchy headline that clearly and accurately reflects the topic of the article, followed by a compelling lead paragraph that catches readers attention and entices them to read further. Then it is a good idea to include a nut graph that adds context and prioritizes the facts of the story and ends with a forward-looking element that shows how this topic will continue to be relevant.
As it is a very short piece of news, the start of a newsflash (often called the lede or flash) needs to capture readers attention and entice them to read further. This can be achieved using a narrative anecdote that both catches the reader’s interest and gives a hint at the weightier argument and evidence that will be presented later in the article or by utilising the newsflash lead writing technique of showing instead of telling.
Because of its short length, a newsflash must skate over details and only major stories belong in this type of article. It is also important to announce in the newsflash if the story will be developed at length in the midday or evening bulletin, so that listeners can tune into that segment.