A newsflash is a short piece of breaking news that updates listeners on events that affect them. It may be local, national or international and can include a mix of hard and soft news. It usually lasts between one and three minutes. A good newsflash starts with a compelling headline that accurately and enticingly conveys what the story is about. It should follow the inverted pyramid style of journalism – most important details first, and more supporting information later. A nut graph can also be included to add context, which is especially important for hard news.
Because of its limited length, a newsflash forces writers to skate over the details; only major stories belong in this format. A newsflash is not the place to introduce opinion on an event; it’s about relaying facts to the audience. Depending on the subject matter, this can be done in a straightforward approach, or through a more narrative style if the topic is human interest.
On radio, a newsflash is often broadcast every hour, although 24-hour information radio stations may broadcast one every half hour, or even more frequently. It interrupts a regular program and is sometimes followed by a developed story, which is known as a bulletin. It’s also used to highlight an upcoming concert, show or other event in the city. If a radio station does not have its own newsroom, it will use the bulletins produced by other local and national newspapers.