A news flash is a piece of breaking news that interrupts radio or television broadcasts. It is a way to keep audiences up to date on current events and can cover local, national or international news. It can also include a weather forecast or an interview with an expert on the topic. A good newsflash will have a compelling lead, follow the inverted pyramid style of reporting (presenting the most important facts first) and cite its sources. It should also end with a forward-looking element to show how the topic will continue to affect people in the future.
The lead is the first paragraph of a news article that introduces the topic and grabs readers’ attention. It should be short and concise, but also clearly and completely describe the subject of the story. It should also be written in the third person to avoid jarring readers with switches to first or second person.
A strong lead should use a narrative hook or anecdote to encapsulate the subject and capture readers’ interest. It should also follow the “show, don’t tell” technique, describing what happened rather than just listing facts. For example, instead of saying that Johnny ran up a hill, explain that his legs were burning and he was struggling to catch his breath at the top of the climb. A good lead should also conclude with a nut graph that ties the facts you have introduced into a bigger picture and shows why they matter.