A newsflash is a short 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. It is usually shorter than a bulletin, and radio stations broadcast them at regular intervals throughout the day.
A good newsflash should begin with an attention-grabbing headline that accurately and enticingly conveys what the article is about. It should also follow the inverted pyramid style by introducing the most important details first and adding supporting information as you go along, and it is often helpful to include quotes from experts or witnesses. A nut graph can also be useful, as it ties the main points together and explains why they are significant. Finally, if the story is particularly important or urgent, it’s worth including a forward-looking element that demonstrates how it will affect the audience.
The short length of a news flash necessitates that writers skate over some of the details; only major stories belong in this type of report. It is also not the place to bring opinion; a newsflash is all about facts.
A narrative flash might lead with a descriptive anecdote that simultaneously captures readers’ attention and entices them to delve deeper into the article — for example, if eight California high school students who share the same name pull off a witty stunt. A scene-setter lede is also an effective approach to a newsflash, as it sets the stage for the rest of the piece — for instance, if flames engulfed a bakery and people were forced to flee their homes.