A news flash is a piece of breaking news that interrupts radio or television broadcasts. It is a way of keeping audiences up to date on current events and can be local, national or international in nature. It should be concise and factual in nature, and not contain opinion or analysis. It should also not have a political bias and should cite its sources. A news flash is usually short, and can range from one to three minutes.
A good newsflash starts with a compelling lead that grabs attention and draws readers in to continue listening or watching. It should follow the inverted pyramid style of reporting by introducing the most important details first and then adding supporting information later on. It should also incorporate quotes from experts or witnesses to add credibility and perspective. Finally, a newsflash should end with a forward-looking element that shows how the subject matter will affect people in the future.
Newsflashes are not to be confused with bulletins, which typically have a more developed story and offer opinions and analysis. The anchor can only broadcast between 6 and 10 news items during a newsflash so it is vital to convey these facts in a clear, concise and compelling manner.
A nut graph is a great way to tie together the various points made in a newsflash, and to illustrate why they are significant. The nut graph should also be clearly labelled as such and should include an attribution of the source.