A news update does exactly what the name suggests – it keeps your audience in touch with all the latest developments on a particular topic. It may evoke images of black-and-white journalism in major newspapers or the nightly news recap on television, but it can also be a company-wide email or newsletter that highlights key projects, achievements and milestones.
Your news update should start with a strong hook that piques the interest of readers. This should be something like a dramatic anecdote, surprising fact or key data point. Then introduce your story with a summary that answers the five W’s and one H (who, what, when, where, why and how). This is known as the lede or the nut graph, and it’s essential to include this in your release because busy journalists have very short attention spans.
After delivering the key facts, your story should continue with more background information, analysis and other details that support the headline. You can also use quotes from experts or other sources to add credibility, humour and depth to your story. However, be careful not to overdo it with quotes — these can quickly derail the flow of your narrative and make your news release seem less credible.
Use images and video where possible to break up text and illustrate complex or technical topics. These can convey a greater sense of impact and reality than words alone can. For example, a photo of a building collapsing or a recording of a call to emergency services can convey more in terms of emotional intensity than a written description could do.