A news flash is a short piece of breaking news that updates listeners on current events. They may be local, national or international and can include a mix of hard and soft news. A good newsflash starts with a lead that accurately and enticingly conveys what the story is about, using a narrative hook or anecdote to capture listeners’ attention and draw them in. It should also include a nut graph that ties the main points into a bigger picture, showing why they are important and in which direction the topic is moving.
A well written newsflash can have the same effect as a breaking story on the front page of a newspaper. Because they are so brief, however, newsflashes often have to skate over the details; only major stories belong in this type of article. This makes it important to follow the inverted pyramid style, conveying the most crucial information first and then revealing more detailed information as you go along. It is also important to use a quote from an expert or witness to lend credibility and perspective to the newsflash.
A radio station often broadcasts a newsflash every hour or so; some even have them every quarter of an hour if there is a lot of breaking news. In some cases the newsflash may interrupt a soap opera or other programme. The term newsflash is also used for a ticker or scrolling line of news that appears on a television screen, but these usually don’t interrupt programmes.
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