Flash triggers excitement ...

A flash can have several meanings.
For new agencies, the term is use to define news alert to subscribers of a major story. It is a one-sentence item that are transmitted as swiftly as possible once information is received from reliable sources.
The Cabinet reshuffle today is a good example of how Bernama, as a news agency, breaks a major story using flash.
After getting the statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the editor on duty sends out a ‘one-liner’ on the new appointments to subscribers – the first ‘flash’ out around 5.30pm.
As the minor reshuffle involves several ministers and deputy ministers – mostly from MCA, several ‘one-liners’ on the appointments were thus sent out.
This helps subscribers especially radio and television stations to make spot announcements on air or run crawlers on screen.
As for newspaper subscribers, the ‘flash’ helps them to prepare their write-ups or otherwise, expect the stories from Bernama.
During the days of teleprinter, the sub-editors will indicate three to five ‘bells’ to the flash to notify subscribers the varying importance of the story.
Apart from Cabinet reshuffle, flash are used for election and sports results, court decisions, disasters and major government announcements including highlights of the Budget tabled in Parliament.
As the cabinet reshuffle had been speculated for weeks, there was no doubt that the Bernama news flash triggered excitement especially among its media subscribers across the nation.
It takes just a one-liner – the Bernama flash and one Malaysia is alerted of the Cabinet reshuffle.
For the record, MCA President Chua Soi Lek kept his promise to be left out of the Cabinet so as to concentrate on the party after a gruelling party election in March. Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat, who lost the president's post to Chua, was dropped.
The portfolio was taken up by secretary-general Kong Cho Ha, the Housing and Local Government Minister. Vice -president Chor Chee Heung, the deputy finance minister, was promoted to Housing and Local Government Minister while deputy president Liow Tiong Lai remained as Health Minister.
Another vice president Ng Yen Yen kept her Tourism portfolio while Donald Lim Siang Chai, another veep, is the new Deputy Finance Minister.
MIC Deputy President G.Palanivel, made a Senator recently, returned as Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities.
PPP longest-serving vice president Maglin Dennis D'Cruz was appointed as Deputy Information Communications and Culture Minister to take over from Heng Seai Kie who moved to Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.
Serian MP Richard Riot received a 'Gawai' gift when he was made Deputy Foreign Minister -- the slot reserved for Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) that was held by Robert Lau Hoi Chew, who died in April.