A news flash is a short piece of breaking news that updates your audience on local, national or international topics. It is a great way to keep your audience informed about issues that affect them. Newsflashes are different from bulletins in that they are not the place to convey your opinion on a topic or give detailed analysis; instead they are simply used to relay facts and developments.
A good news flash should start with an attention-grabbing headline that accurately and enticingly reflects what the article is about. Next, you should create a compelling lead that sets the scene for your readers and explains why this issue matters to them. Finally, you should include a nut graph that adds context and ties the facts you introduced in your lead into a bigger picture to show why this topic is significant and what direction it’s heading in.
The first paragraph, also known as the lead, is the most important part of your news flash because it is your opportunity to grab your reader’s attention and draw them in to continue listening. The lead is often written using a narrative hook or anecdote that simultaneously captures the reader’s interest and entices them to learn more about your story.
Since news flashes are often very short, it is a good idea to use the inverted pyramid style of writing – put the most important information at the top of your article and then reveal more detail as you go along. You should also cite your sources and include quotes from witnesses or experts to lend credibility to your story.