AI WORLD HQEasy Daily News with Alexa's Flash Briefing
Learn how to set up your Alexa smart assistant to deliver simple, plain-English news summaries every morning, keeping you informed without the jargon.
Imagine waking up to a quick, easy-to-understand rundown of the day's headlines, all spoken by your voice-activated smart assistant without you having to lift a finger. This guide will show you how to set up your Echo device (that's the smart speaker or display with Alexa built-in) to deliver a personalised news summary, called a Flash Briefing, tailored to your preferences for simple explanations. By the end, you'll be able to get your daily news gist quickly and easily. While Alexa can fetch a lot of news, remember it's designed for brief summaries and won't replace in-depth journalism for complex topics.
💡 Tip: tap a step’s number when you finish it — a green tick appears and your browser remembers how far you got.
- An Echo device (like an Echo Dot or Echo Show) already set up and connected to your home Wi-Fi. This is the physical speaker or display that responds to your voice commands.
- The Amazon Alexa app installed on your smartphone or tablet. This app acts as the remote control for your Echo device and its settings.
- An active Amazon account linked to your Alexa app and Echo device.
- Roughly 6-8 minutes of your time to follow these steps.
Open the Alexa App on Your Phone
To begin, locate and tap the Amazon Alexa app icon on your smartphone or tablet's home screen. This app is your central hub for managing all your Alexa-enabled devices and their features. When the app opens, you'll typically see its home screen, which might display various "cards" showing suggestions, recent activity, or smart home controls.
IF IT LOOKS DIFFERENT: If you're having trouble finding the app, look for a blue speech bubble icon with a white outline – that's the official Alexa logo. Ensure your phone is connected to the internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data) so the app can communicate with your Amazon account and Echo device.
You'll know it worked when the Alexa app's main screen, featuring different content cards and a navigation bar usually at the bottom, appears clearly on your device.
Navigate to the "More" Menu
Next, you need to access the main menu within the Alexa app to find the settings for adding new capabilities. Look for the "More" tab, which is typically situated in the bottom-right corner of your screen. Tapping this tab will open up a list of various options, like "Reminders," "Routines," and "Skills & Games," allowing you to control different aspects of your Alexa experience.
IF IT LOOKS DIFFERENT: On some older versions of the app, or depending on your device, you might instead see a "hamburger" menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner, or a "Discover" tab at the bottom that leads to a similar menu. Tap whichever option looks like a gateway to more settings and features.
You'll know it worked when a new screen or panel appears, showing a comprehensive list of categories and features, including an option labelled "Skills & Games."
Find the "Skills & Games" Section
Now, let's dive into where Alexa gets its new abilities from. From the menu that appeared in the previous step, tap on "Skills & Games." Think of "Skills & Games" as an app store for your Echo device; each "skill" is like a mini-app that adds a specific function or content to Alexa, from playing games to delivering news. Once inside this section, you'll likely see a search bar at the top or a magnifying glass icon. Tap on this search element to bring up your keyboard.
IF IT LOOKS DIFFERENT: The search bar might be immediately visible upon entering the "Skills & Games" section, without needing to tap a separate icon. Always look for a magnifying glass icon or a clear text box labelled "Search."
You'll know it worked when the screen displays search results, often showing various news providers and services, each offering an Alexa skill.
Choose and Enable a News Skill
With the search results showing, scroll through the list to find a news skill that sounds like it offers simple, easy-to-understand explanations. Look for descriptions that mention "brief," "headlines," or "daily summary" from reputable news organisations. Once you've found a promising option, tap on its name to view its detailed page, which includes information about what the skill does and user reviews. To add this skill to your Alexa, tap the prominent "Enable to Use" button.
IF IT LOOKS DIFFERENT: The button might also say "Activate Skill" or "Launch." Occasionally, a skill might ask you to link your account with the news provider for premium features, but most basic news briefings are free and won't require this step. If it asks for payment or account linking, you can simply go back and choose another skill.
You'll know it worked when you see a confirmation message on the screen, such as "Skill enabled" or "This skill is ready to use," indicating that the news source is now linked to your Alexa account.
Customise Your Flash Briefing Order
After enabling your chosen news skill, it's a good idea to customise your Flash Briefing, which is Alexa's personalised daily audio news summary. Go back to the main menu (by tapping "More" again), then tap "Settings." Within the settings list, scroll down and look for "Flash Briefing" – it might be under a "News" or "Audio" section. Here, you'll see a list of all the news skills currently active in your briefing. You can drag and drop them to reorder them, deciding which news you hear first, or toggle any off if they're not quite what you're looking for, ensuring you prioritise your plain-language sources.
IF IT LOOKS DIFFERENT: The "Flash Briefing" option might be nested under a broader "News" or "Audio" category within the settings, rather than being a top-level item. Take a moment to scan the headings in your settings menu.
You'll know it worked when you have successfully arranged your preferred news sources, and their names appear in the exact order you'd like Alexa to present them during your daily audio briefing.
Ask Alexa for Your News Briefing
Now that you've set everything up, it's time to experience your personalised news! Walk up to your Echo device and clearly speak your wake word followed by the command for your Flash Briefing. The wake word is the word you say to get Alexa's attention (usually "Alexa," but you might have customised it to "Echo" or "Computer"). Your smart assistant, a voice-controlled digital helper, will then start playing concise summaries from the news skills you enabled and organised in the previous steps.
IF IT LOOKS DIFFERENT: If your Echo device has a screen (like an Echo Show), it might also display visual headlines or accompanying images. If Alexa says it doesn't understand, try speaking a little clearer, closer to the device, or using a slightly different phrasing of the command.
You'll know it worked when Alexa acknowledges your command with a phrase like "Here's your Flash Briefing" and then begins playing the headlines and brief explanations from your selected news sources.
Refine for Simpler Explanations (If Needed)
If the news briefings you're getting still feel a little too complex, or filled with jargon, don't worry – you can refine your choices. Go back to the "Skills & Games" section in the Alexa app (as you did in Step 3). This time, try using more specific search terms like "simple news," "brief news," "headline news," or "plain language news." Explore new skills that explicitly state they offer easy-to-understand summaries. If you find a better option, enable it (following Step 4), and then return to your "Flash Briefing" settings (Step 5) to disable any overly complex skills and ensure your new, simpler choice is included.
IF IT LOOKS DIFFERENT: Some individual news skills might offer different "modes" (e.g., brief vs. detailed) within their own specific settings. You might find these by tapping on the skill name within your "Flash Briefing" list in the settings and looking for additional options.
You'll know it worked when your morning briefing sounds noticeably clearer, contains less technical jargon, and delivers the key information in a way that is easy to follow without feeling overwhelmed.
- Not using the Alexa app for setup: Many advanced customisation options for your Echo device, especially for adding skills and managing preferences, are handled through the mobile app, not directly on the device. If you're struggling to find options, make sure the Alexa app is installed and linked to your Amazon account.
- Choosing overly detailed news sources initially: Not all news skills are created equal when it comes to simplicity. If your Flash Briefing is too information-dense, revisit Step 7 and actively seek skills that highlight "brief," "simple," or "headline" summaries in their descriptions.
- Forgetting the specific command for your briefing: Alexa needs a precise command to trigger your curated news summary. If you just say "Alexa, news," it might play a single news story or a general broadcast. Always use the exact phrase, "Alexa, what's my Flash Briefing?" to get your personalised roundup.
Grab your phone or tablet, open the Alexa app, and try enabling just one simple news skill, perhaps from your local public broadcaster or a service known for brief summaries. Then, simply ask your Echo device, "Alexa, what's my Flash Briefing?" and listen to your first personalised news update.
❓ Quick questions
How long does this take?
About 6 minutes — the guide has 7 steps, and you can tick each one off as you go.
Which tool do I need?
This guide uses Amazon Alexa+ — but the approach works very similarly in other AI assistants.
Do I need to prepare anything?
- An Echo device (like an Echo Dot or Echo Show) already set up and connected to your home Wi-Fi. This is the physical speaker or display that responds to your voice commands.
- The Amazon Alexa app installed on your smartphone or tablet. This app acts as the remote control for your Echo device and its settings.
- An active Amazon account linked to your Alexa app and Echo device.
- Roughly 6-8 minutes of your time to follow these steps.
What mistakes should I avoid?
- Not using the Alexa app for setup: Many advanced customisation options for your Echo device, especially for adding skills and managing preferences, are handled through the mobile app, not directly on the device. If you're struggling to find options, make sure the Alexa app is installed and linked to your Amazon account.
- Choosing overly detailed news sources initially: Not all news skills are created equal when it comes to simplicity. If your Flash Briefing is too information-dense, revisit Step 7 and actively seek skills that highlight "brief," "simple," or "headline" summaries in their descriptions.
- Forgetting the specific command for your briefing: Alexa needs a precise command to trigger your curated news summary. If you just say "Alexa, news," it might play a single news story or a general broadcast. Always use the exact phrase, "Alexa, what's my Flash Briefing?" to get your personalised roundup.
Keep reading
📬 The week’s AI, in your inbox
One friendly email every Sunday — the 5 stories that mattered, in plain English. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
✦ Original step-by-step guide by AI World HQ's AI editorial team. Written in plain language, reviewed for accuracy.
← Back to all stories