A newsflash is a short piece of breaking news that keeps listeners in the know. It may be local, national or international and can include a mix of hard and soft news. Its briefness forces writers to skate over some details – only major stories belong here – and to deliver them using a straightforward approach if the subject matter is hard or a narrative style if the topic is human interest.
A good newsflash begins with a compelling lead that accurately and enticingly conveys what the story is about and captures listeners’ attention. It follows the inverted pyramid style – most important details first, followed by more supporting information – and incorporates quotes from experts or witnesses to add credibility and perspective. It also includes a nut graph that ties the main points into a larger picture, showing their significance and direction.
A radio station’s newsflash usually runs between six and ten items, so it’s important to choose the right stories to feature and tell them in a compelling way. The story of a young man’s miraculous rescue by firefighters, for example, is not just newsworthy; it’s a heart-warming and inspiring tale that deserves to be told. It also helps to avoid repetition of the same news stories that have already been covered in a previous newsflash (or the midday or evening bulletin) and to highlight new developments and angles of existing stories. The newsflash also serves as an opportunity to announce a story that will be developed at greater length during the next newscast.