Breaking news is a term used to describe events that occur suddenly and urgently, often requiring immediate reporting. This type of news often interrupts regular programming and may involve public safety issues, severe weather or other significant developments that could affect the public.
Because breaking news events can occur without advance warning, journalists must decide whether to interrupt programming and what information to deliver as the story unfolds. In addition, they must balance the need for speed with their obligation to report accurately and refrain from sensationalism. Social media plays a key role in how breaking news is reported, allowing people to share eyewitness accounts and public reactions immediately as events happen.
While eyewitness accounts make compelling copy, they should be carefully vetted before airing. In the chaos of a shooting, for example, someone who isn’t trained to handle emergency situations can easily misinterpret what they see and hear. This type of error can have catastrophic consequences, as NPR erroneously reported that Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords had died. It’s important that journalists do their own firsthand reporting, rather than simply stealing from other sources.
Television and radio stations typically use a special alert crawl during times of breaking news. They might also change their lower third graphics or interrupt a regularly scheduled program with an announcement, as they did in the case of the assassination of John F. Kennedy and other major breaking stories. Radio and TV stations should have a plan in place to determine when it’s appropriate to interrupt programming and what information to include during this time.