A news flash is a short news report that interrupts normal radio or television programming. It usually announces a story that will be developed at greater length during a midday or evening news bulletin, or a piece of light-hearted information such as traffic or weather. A newsflash typically lasts between one and three minutes.
The first paragraph of a newsflash is critical for catching readers’ attention and drawing them into the article. This section is often called the “lead” or the “flash.” It should follow the inverted pyramid style of journalism, presenting the most important details of the story first. It should also include a nut graph, which provides context and further detail about the story. Finally, it should end with a forward look.
Narrative flash lede: This type of lead introduces the topic of an opinion piece by telling a story. It’s also a good opportunity to practice the writing technique known as “show, don’t tell.” For example, instead of simply saying Johnny ran up the hill, you might describe how his legs were aching afterward, or how he was struggling for breath.
cq: A notation made during copy editing to indicate that a word, phrase or name spelling has been checked for accuracy. Originally, this was done with a red pen or pencil, but now it’s more likely to be digitally marked with a checkmark icon.
For an example of a narrative flash lede, see the following article on Ryan Zinke’s ethical lapses. The opening sentence of this piece, which is the introductory news flash, mentions the latest controversy that swirled around Zinke’s behavior: “Monday’s complaint comes amid a special counsel investigation into his spending habits and audits into Whitefish Energy Holdings.”