A news flash is a quick piece of breaking news that updates listeners on current events. It may be local, national or international and can include a mix of hard and soft news. A newsflash is not the place to bring opinion or offer analysis, it is simply a way to convey facts about an issue to your audience.
Because a newsflash is so short it necessarily skates over some details; only major stories belong here. This is why it’s important to start the story with a compelling lead that accurately and enticingly conveys what the story is about. This is known as the scene-setter lede and you can use a narrative hook or an anecdote to grab your audience’s attention and draw them into the story. It’s also important to cite your sources at the end of the lead to add credibility to your article.
Newsflashes usually last one to three minutes and can be broadcast at any time during the day. They often interrupt other programming such as sports telecasts or soap operas on television and radio. They can be presented on a dedicated news feed or in a scrolling line of type that appears at the bottom of the screen on 24-hour information radio stations.
A newsflash can be a good opportunity to promote a story that will be developed at length in the midday or evening news bulletin (as a kind of promo for the newsroom’s work). It is also a great opportunity to give out practical info such as traffic, weather and a summary of a decree.
