A news flash is a brief piece of breaking news that keeps radio or TV listeners updated on current events. It can be about local, national or international issues and is an excellent way to keep audiences engaged and up to date. Newsflashes can contain more complex stories, or lighter news like the weather forecast or an interview with a celebrity.
A good newsflash starts with a headline that accurately and enticingly reflects the subject of the article. This is known as the lead, and is an opportunity to grab readers’ attention and draw them into the story by using a narrative hook or anecdote. The lead should also mention any additional details that need to be conveyed and cite the source. It’s also a good idea to use the “show, don’t tell” technique in your lead – instead of telling readers that Johnny ran up the hill, show them his legs were aching and he was struggling for breath.
The lead should then be followed by a nut graph that adds context and ties the facts you introduced in your lead together to explain why they are important. This should also follow the inverted pyramid style, introducing the most crucial details first and adding more detailed information as you go along. It’s also a good idea at this stage to include a forward-looking element, showing how the topic will continue to affect the audience in the future.
Finally, the newsflash should end with a byline and place line, which are the name of the author and the location where the story takes place. It’s a good idea to stick with first names for people unless there is compelling reason to use their full initials.
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