A news flash is a short, up-to-date piece of news that provides listeners with an account of current events. It can be about local, national, or international news and is a great way to keep listeners informed about what’s happening in their community and in the world. A news flash is not the place to give your opinion or analyze a story; rather, it should present facts.
Start with a headline that grabs readers’ attention. This is known as the “flash lede” and can be a powerful narrative anecdote to draw in listeners while pointing them toward the weightier argument and evidence that’s to come. Follow with a nut graph that ties the facts you introduced in the lead to the bigger picture, showing listeners why this story matters and what’s at stake.
Include quotes from experts or witnesses to add credibility and context. It’s also helpful to incorporate a timeline to show how this event has evolved over time. Finally, end with a forward-looking element that demonstrates how this story will continue to have relevance in the future.
This is especially important if you started with a narrative flash lede, as it gives listeners the feeling that you’re wrapping things up while bringing them back to the introductory story. Depending on the topic, this could be something as simple as announcing that next week’s midday or evening bulletin will have more on this development, or it can be as complex as announcing the outcome of Monday’s complaint against Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.
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