A news flash is a brief piece of breaking news that keeps radio listeners updated on events that affect them, such as a hurricane heading for a city or a politician making a controversial promise. It can be local, national or international and can include both hard and soft news. Unlike the midday or evening newscast, a news flash does not go into great detail about an issue but rather presents facts and a quick update on what is happening now.
Because of their short length, newsflashes necessarily have to skate over details; only major stories belong in this type of article. They should always start with a compelling headline that accurately and enticingly conveys what the story is about. After the headline, a scene-setter lede can be used to entice readers to delve into the news item: a descriptive anecdote can be effective in grabbing attention – for example, a fire in an apartment building that resulted in numerous injuries. It may also be helpful to include a quote from an expert to provide credibility and perspective. Next, the article should follow the inverted pyramid style of journalism: convey the most crucial facts first, then reveal more supporting information as you continue. Finally, a nut graph can be used to tie the main points into the bigger picture and demonstrate how they relate to each other and to the direction the topic is headed in.
A news flash is the perfect vehicle for announcing that a more developed story will be presented in a later newscast, such as an interview with a political leader or the release of a government document (promoting the newsroom’s work). A newsflash can also be used to break important news about a celebrity (a pop culture item) or for more practical news like a weather update or a summary of a decree (a kicker). It is common for stations to broadcast a newsflash every hour, although some have them every other hour or even less frequently, depending on their resources.