News flash is a short, compelling piece that gives readers an account of current events. It can be written about local, national or international issues and is a great way to inform the public on various topics that affect them. The key to writing a successful news flash is getting the audience’s attention at the start. The start of a news flash is called the lead, and it’s your first chance to grab readers’ attention so they don’t turn the page or click away from your article. Often, this can be achieved by using a narrative hook or anecdote to introduce the subject of your story.
The next step is creating a strong and engaging lead paragraph that provides context and explains why your news item is important. This can be done by following the inverted pyramid style, which puts the most important details at the top of your article and then moves on to supporting information. It’s also important to use the “show, don’t tell” writing technique when introducing the facts of your story. For example, instead of saying Johnny ran up the hill, write how his legs were aching and his breath labored to climb the steep path.
Lastly, you need to create an ending that ties back into your introductory story or, when appropriate, looks forward. This is important because it will help readers understand why your news item is important and how it might impact the future.