A news flash is a quick piece of breaking news about local, national or international events that affects the audience. It’s an important part of any radio broadcast to keep listeners up to date on the things that are happening in their community and beyond. Newsflashes are not a place for opinion or analysis; they simply provide factual information that keeps listeners informed about the latest developments on a topic.
The first paragraph of a news flash, often referred to as the lead, is your first opportunity to capture readers’ attention and draw them in so that they don’t turn off their radio or click away. The lead should use a narrative hook or anecdote to encapsulate the main subject of your newsflash and provide context that is more likely to connect with readers. The lead is also a great place to use the show-don’t-tell writing technique. Instead of merely telling readers that Johnny ran up the hill, you can describe his cheeks turning red and his breathing labored to help them imagine what the scene must have been like.
After a compelling lead, you can continue to support the facts introduced in the first paragraph with further details and cite the source of your information. You may also choose to include a nut graph at the end of your newsflash to provide context about why this particular event is significant and which direction it’s heading. It’s also a good idea to end with a forward-looking element that ties back into your narrative flash lede and gives your article some extra oomph.
