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Easy Daily News with Alexa's Flash Briefing

Q: 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

Q: 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 c

Learn how to set up your Alexa smart assistant to deliver simple, plain-English news summaries every morning, keeping you informed without the jargon.

6 min read·July 17, 2026

This guide was written by AI. It passed automated fact and quality checks, and our editor spot-checks published guides every day.

🛒 This guide contains an affiliate link (Amazon).

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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 personalized 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.

✅ Before you start

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.

Step 1 of 7

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.

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.

🔄 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.

✅ 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.

Next step ↓

✏️ Sketch — your screen may look a little different

Step 2 of 7

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.

Tap whichever option looks like a gateway to more settings and features.

🔄 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.

✅ You'll know it worked when

a new screen or panel appears, showing a comprehensive list of categories and features, including an option labeled "Skills & Games."

Next step ↓

Step 3 of 7

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.

Always look for a magnifying glass icon or a clear text box labeled "Search." The menu structure may have changed in recent app updates — if you don't see "Skills & Games," look for "Skills" or check under "Settings."

💬 ExampleType `news briefing`

🔄 If it looks different

**** The search bar might be immediately visible upon entering the "Skills & Games" section, without needing to tap a separate icon.

✅ You'll know it worked when

the screen displays search results, often showing various news providers and services, each offering an Alexa skill.

Next step ↓

✏️ Sketch — your screen may look a little different

Step 4 of 7

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 organizations. 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 asks for payment or account linking, you can simply go back and choose another skill. Note that some news skills may have been discontinued — if a skill isn't available, try searching for similar options.

🔄 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.

✅ 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.

Next step ↓

✏️ Sketch — your screen may look a little different

Step 5 of 7

Customize Your Flash Briefing Order

After enabling your chosen news skill, it's a good idea to customize your Flash Briefing, which is Alexa's personalized 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 reorder them (some app versions use drag-and-drop, others may require a different method), deciding which news you hear first, or toggle any off if they're not quite what you're looking for, ensuring you prioritize your plain-language sources.

The exact interface for reordering sources may vary depending on your app version. Take a moment to scan the headings in your settings menu.

🔄 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.

✅ 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.

Next step ↓

✏️ Sketch — your screen may look a little different

Step 6 of 7

Ask Alexa for Your News Briefing

Now that you've set everything up, it's time to experience your personalized 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 customized 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 organized in the previous steps.

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.

💬 Try typing this"Alexa, what's my Flash Briefing?"➤

🔄 If it looks different

**** If your Echo device has a screen (like an Echo Show), it might also display visual headlines or accompanying images.

✅ 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.

Next step ↓

✏️ Sketch — your screen may look a little different

Step 7 of 7

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.

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.

🔄 If it looks different

**** Some individual news skills might offer different "modes" (e.g., brief vs.

✅ 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.

Refine for Simpler Explanations (If Needed)

⚠️ Common mistakes

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 personalized roundup.

🚀 Try it now

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 personalized news update.

🎯 Next guideAsk Alexa+ to Read Your Calendar Aloud and Get a Heads-Up Before MeetingsSet up a simple morning routine that has Alexa+ read out your schedule and warn you before each meeting starts.

❓ 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 personalized roundup.

Keep reading

📘 Build a Custom Morning Briefing with News, Weather, and Calendar in Alexa+ Create one Alexa+ routine that reads your day aloud the moment you say good morning — calendar, weather, and news. 📘 Build a Reusable Alexa+ Morning Routine That Runs the Same Way Every Weekday Save one Alexa+ routine that bundles news, weather, calendar and lights into a single hands-free voice command 📘 Ask Alexa+ to Read Your Calendar Aloud and Get a Heads-Up Before Meetings Set up a simple morning routine that has Alexa+ read out your schedule and warn you before each meeting starts. 📘 How to Use Amazon's Conversational Alexa+ at Home Unlock truly natural, back-and-forth conversations with your smart speaker to effortlessly manage your home and daily tasks. 📘 Set Up an Alexa+ Routine to Automate Your Everyday Tasks Learn how to create a simple Alexa+ Routine that greets you, controls lights and plays music – all with a single voice command. 📘 Create a Smart-Home Security Alert with Alexa Routines Learn how to set up an Amazon Alexa routine that detects when a door opens and sends you an instant voice or push alert, giving you peace of mind.

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✦ Generated by AI in AI World HQ's automated newsroom, written in plain language. Checked by automated fact and quality gates, and our editor spot-checks published guides every day. Spot a mistake? Use the buttons above.

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