The greatest danger Flash poses to delivering information is implied in its name. Flash is nothing but an extra dazzle. Flash content should not be thought of as a standalone element unless it contains the actual text for the story.
Another reason Flash should be used sparingly is that the text in Flash, although can be set to selectable, is usually not if animated or used dynamically. Also, as an swf, search engines like Google cannot crawl or cache text from your site if it is in the swf. This severely limits your traffic and therefore results in less readership.
The most important thing about using Flash is to use it in a way that is not annoying. If the display makes it harder or more convoluted for the reader to get information, then it is not worth using. I personally like to use Flash to explain a process or instructions that are particularly complex. A moving diagram or chart that is meant to be a visual in the first place is often served well with added Flash capability.
My business deals a lot in Flash, especially in internet advertising. It is best used for those block elements: sidebars, infographs, slide shows, etc. That way it is set aside as a supplemental piece instead of integral to the article, which it shouldn't be. And the reader will know.
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