A news flash interrupts a radio or TV programme to tell listeners about new developments in breaking stories. This could be local, national or international and is a great way to keep your audience updated on issues that affect them. However, unlike a bulletin it is not the place to give your opinion or analyse the story, and should focus purely on conveying factual information.
The first paragraph of a news flash, often referred to as the lead, is critical, as this is your chance to grab reader attention and draw them in. A good lead will use a narrative hook or anecdote to encapsulate the main subject and capture the audience’s emotions. It should also be written using the “show, don’t tell” technique – rather than telling readers that Johnny ran up the hill, for example, you might write about how his legs were aching and he was struggling to catch his breath as he climbed up the steep path.
Following the lead is a nut graph, which adds context and ties the facts you’ve introduced in the lead together to show why the topic matters. Finally, a forward-looking element should be included that shows how this issue will continue to impact people’s lives in the future. Newsflashes are usually short, so it’s important to skate over the details; only major stories belong in this type of article. This means that it’s a great opportunity to use the inverted pyramid structure, which means conveying the most crucial facts at the top of the piece before moving on to more detailed information further down.