A news flash is a brief piece of breaking news. It updates listeners on the latest developments, whether local or international, and can be about anything from politics to sport. Like a bulletin, a news flash has copy but no headlines.
The first paragraph of a newsflash, known as the lead, is the chance to capture readers’ attention. It should be engaging and set the scene, but also enticing enough to keep them from turning off or clicking away. It should follow the inverted pyramid style, with key facts conveyed at the top and supporting information later on, and include quotes from experts or witnesses to give credibility and perspective.
Often the newsflash will announce a story that will be developed at length in the midday or evening bulletin (promoting the newsroom’s work). It may also give out practical information, such as traffic conditions or weather, a summary of a decree, or even a little fun (a kicker).
A good newsflash is brief and concise. It should be no more than three minutes long and use the inverted pyramid technique to convey the key details in the first few sentences, and then to build up the story from there. It should be accompanied by a graphic, where possible, to provide a visual context for the story. The last line of a newsflash should be a question to the audience, for example “Do you have any further developments?”. Then, if appropriate, follow with a quote from a specialist on the topic, or a journalist commenting on the issue.