Day: August 7, 2025

A news flash is a short, compelling piece that gives readers an account of current events. It can be about local, national or international issues and is a great way to inform the public on various topics that affect them.

Newsflashes are very similar to bulletins, but they differ in several ways. They’re shorter, and they don’t offer developed stories – only facts. This means that you have to get straight to the point and focus on major developments.

The headline of a news flash is the first chance to catch the attention of your readers. It should be powerful and enticing, so they don’t quickly turn away or click away. A narrative hook or anecdote often works well for a flash introduction, as it both grabs the audience’s attention and hints at the weightier argument and evidence that will follow.

Next comes the lead paragraph, which fleshes out the headline by providing context. It’s also the perfect opportunity to use a “show, don’t tell” approach. For example, instead of saying that Johnny ran up the hill, you can say how his legs were aching and how he had to work hard to make it up. This allows the reader to feel like they are actually there and understand what is happening.

Finally, you’ll need to write an effective conclusion that ties back into the introductory story or draws the reader forward in some way. This will make your news flash more engaging and help readers remember it long after it’s over.

Vote counting continues for days or even weeks after Election Day. During this time, ballots are counted by hand or machine and may be sent back for review if there is a dispute over a result. During this time, you can check the status of your state’s official results through the secretary of state’s website or by calling your local election office.

When you’re looking up results, make sure to check multiple sources and avoid sensational headlines that can trigger negative emotions. Research shows that seeking out fact-based news can help reduce stress and anxiety.

If you see a lot of speculation, ask students what information they think is needed to make a valid claim about election results. Use the teaching strategy Learn to Listen, Listen to Learn to encourage them to engage in civil discussion.

In a close race, a media outlet may decide to predict which candidate won by collecting unofficial results from multiple sources. This process informs the news outlet’s prediction, which is often referred to as a call. A call is an unofficial prediction, and only official results certified by election officials are considered final.

In some states, if the margin between two candidates is within a certain percentage of votes, the trailing candidate has the right to request a recount. If a recount takes place, a team of election officials and representatives from both candidates will examine each ballot one by one or feed them through a machine to make sure that it wasn’t counted incorrectly.