A news flash is a short, urgent announcement that is broadcasted to inform the public of an important event. The term NEWS FLASH can be broken down into three words: BULLETIN (8 letters), ITEM (4 letters), and UPDATE (6 letters). A BULLETIN is a brief report or announcement, usually issued by an official source. An ITEM is a distinct part or element of something larger. An UPDATE is a revised version of something, such as a piece of information or a document.