The 60-second news script template for Shorts, TikTok and Reels

How many words is a 60-second script?

Most people read a script aloud at roughly 130–160 words per minute when they are speaking clearly. Short-form narrators often go faster, but news has to be understood on the first listen, so aim for 140–160 words for a full minute and 70–90 words for a 30-second version.

Count words, then read the script aloud with a timer, because your natural pace may differ. If you run over, cut whole sentences rather than squeezing words out of every line. A cramped read sounds rushed and hurts retention more than a slightly shorter video does.

• 30 seconds: 70–90 words — one detail, no background.
• 45 seconds: 100–120 words — two details.
• 60 seconds: 140–160 words — three details, or two details plus context.
• 90 seconds: 210–240 words — only when the story genuinely needs it.

The five-beat template

Copy this structure and fill in the slots. The timings are targets rather than rules, but when a script runs long, the beat that is over its target is usually the one to cut.

Beat 1 — Hook (0–3 seconds, 8–15 words)

State the change. Not the background, not who you are, not “big news today”. The viewer should know what the video is about before they decide whether to swipe.

Beat 2 — The news in one sentence (3–10 seconds)

Who did what, and when. This is the sentence a viewer would repeat to a friend. Use the proper name of the company or product so the video is searchable and nobody has to guess.

Beat 3 — The details (10–40 seconds)

Two or three specific facts: a number, a limitation, a price, a date, or a comparison with the previous version. Give each fact its own sentence. If you have five details, keep the three that change what the viewer would do.

Beat 4 — Why it matters (40–52 seconds)

The consequence for this viewer, in plain words. This is where your channel’s angle lives, and it is the part a generic summary cannot write for you.

Beat 5 — Close (52–60 seconds)

Choose one of three endings: a source line (“the announcement is linked below”), a question that invites a real answer, or a reason to follow (“I cover one AI change like this every weekday”). Pick one. Three calls to action in eight seconds amounts to none.

Six hook formulas for news

News hooks should promise information, not drama. These formulas work because they tell the viewer what they will learn and why it affects them.

1. 01The plain change: “[Product] can now [new ability].” — “Your phone’s keyboard can now translate while you type.”
2. 02The number: “[Number] — that’s what [change] means for you.” — “Ten times cheaper: that’s what this update does to image generation.”
3. 03The catch: “[Good news], but there’s a catch.” — “The new model is free to use, but there’s a catch.”
4. 04Who it hits: “If you [do X], this changes [Y].” — “If you edit podcasts, this changes how you remove background noise.”
5. 05Before and after: “Yesterday you needed [X]. Today you need [Y].” — “Yesterday you needed three apps for this. Today you need one.”
6. 06The direct question: “Should you switch to [X]? Here’s what changed.” — use sparingly, and only when the video actually answers it.

Avoid hooks that hide the topic (“You won’t believe what just happened”). With news, viewers reward clarity, and vague hooks also make titles and captions harder to find in search.

Worked example: a complete 60-second news script

This script follows the template exactly. The company and product are fictional so the example stays accurate; swap in a real story with real figures from its primary source.

Notice what is missing: no channel intro, no “hey guys”, no company history, no adjectives like “insane” or “game-changing”. Every sentence either tells the viewer something new or tells them why it matters.

On-screen text for the same script

• 0–3s: “Offline AI summaries” in large type over the app screenshot.
• 10–40s: one caption per detail — “Stays on your device”, “Laptops ~3 years old”, “Paid plan, no extra cost”.
• 52–60s: “Source ↓” and your handle.

Adjusting the template for Shorts, TikTok and Reels

The spoken script barely changes between platforms; the packaging does.

• YouTube Shorts: titles and descriptions are searchable on YouTube, so put the product name in the title and source links in the description.
• TikTok: on-screen text and the caption carry a lot of weight. Put the key fact in the first caption line, and make the spoken hook and the on-screen hook say the same thing.
• Instagram Reels: the cover frame shows on your profile grid, so design a readable cover. Use the caption for the source credit and a one-line summary for people watching muted.
• Everywhere: burn in captions. Many people watch with the sound off, and captions help non-native speakers follow fast news.

All three platforms now accept vertical videos longer than 60 seconds, but that is an allowance, not a target. For a single news item, 30–60 seconds is usually enough.

Pre-publish checklist

• The hook names the change within the first three seconds.
• Every name, number and date matches the primary source.
• “Available now” and “coming later” are clearly separated.
• The script is 140–160 words for 60 seconds, and you have read it aloud with a timer.
• There is exactly one call to action.
• The source is credited on screen, in the caption or in the description.

If you write these every day, the slot-filling is the part automation handles well. FeedlyScript for Shorts picks trending stories from the sources you choose and writes a script in a fixed structure, with a roughly one-, two- or three-minute length setting and its sources listed underneath; you still check the facts and record it yourself. If you also post a thread or a newsletter, see how to turn one story into four formats.