Breaking news is a term for stories that occur suddenly and have the potential to affect the public immediately. These stories can include anything from natural disasters to major accidents to political events. Breaking news is usually reported in real time, meaning that journalists broadcast or publish updates as soon as they become available. Because of its urgency, breaking news often interrupts regular programming to deliver immediate updates, and it often requires quick research and verification due to the lack of information available at a time of an event.
The most important aspects of breaking news are its timeliness and relevance to the public. As such, the news industry relies on eyewitness accounts, official statements, and social media to provide updates as they happen. The nature of breaking news also makes it difficult to verify facts, which can lead to misinformation being spread quickly. This can create ethical challenges for journalists who are pressured to report breaking news quickly and accurately.
A good breaking news article will be concise and to the point. Avoid relying on jargon or complex vocabulary, and always be sure to use quotes from sources that can speak for themselves. It’s also important to not speculate about the story—one wrong assumption can make your entire article sound false, as was the case with NPR’s erroneous report that Gabby Gifford had died.
As a general rule, you should start with the most important who, what, when, where, and why information in the story. Then, include additional details that will help readers understand the context and impact of the event. When identifying individuals, use the full first name and last initial for clarity.
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