Breaking news is a term used to describe news stories that occur as events unfold, usually requiring immediate reporting. Such events can include natural disasters, accidents, political events, or significant social issues. This type of news is often highlighted in newspapers and broadcast media with headlines and a graphic designed to catch the audience’s attention. It can also be accompanied by an alert crawl that updates the audience as new information becomes available. Breaking news is typically more urgent than regular reporting and can capture the public’s imagination due to its immediacy.
Breaking News
In the past, breaking news in newspapers meant that an important event or story happened so late that it was impossible to fit the new item into the original front page layout. For example, if an earthquake occurred shortly before printing, the newspaper would have to break the layout to add the new article in the top right-hand corner, often taking the place of a larger headline or more important piece of news.
Today, with the rise of social media and other digital platforms, breaking news can happen instantly and can be spread widely online. This can sometimes cause confusion and misinformation as events are unfolding, especially in situations where the truth is difficult to discern.
When covering a breaking news event, journalists must balance their need to deliver the latest updates with their responsibility to report factually and without sensationalism. They must also be wary of relying on eyewitness accounts from people who haven’t been interviewed by authorities, since those can be inaccurate. For example, NPR made a mistake in reporting that Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords had died, which it later learned was false.