Breaking news refers to events that occur rapidly and capture the audience’s attention due to their urgency. These stories typically involve new information that is important and relevant to the public, such as a terrorist attack or a natural disaster. They often interrupt regular programming and require journalists to prioritize speed over accuracy, as details may be difficult to verify quickly. Social media plays a key role in the dissemination of breaking news, as it allows for immediate and continuous updates from eyewitness accounts and news sources. Evaluate the ethical considerations that arise during breaking news incidents and discuss how digital platforms influence how this type of news is reported.
For example, if someone calls the newsroom claiming to be at a location where a crime is happening and provides a phone number, make sure that the caller is indeed in the vicinity of the event before going live with them on air. If the story is a major one that requires interrupting non-news programming, use a countdown sequence to give affiliates time to switch over to the network feed before the broadcast begins.
It is best not to speculate on a breaking news story that you haven’t witnessed firsthand, especially if the subject of the story is a politician or other high profile person who could be harmed by erroneous reports. Remember Murphy’s Law: the one time you assume something is true, it will be proved otherwise. It is also a good idea to confirm eyewitness accounts with authorities, such as did NPR when it first reported that Giffords had died from her injuries in the shooting.