Breaking news refers to new and important developments in a story that capture the public’s attention due to their timeliness and relevance. Because of its urgency, breaking news often disrupts regular programming to broadcast live updates and frequently interrupts traditional reporting with “breaking news alerts.” The nature of breaking news requires journalists to work quickly to inform the audience about events that may impact them directly. Often, this leads to the use of unstructured reporting, where information is gathered and delivered as it becomes available rather than following a predetermined script.
In the case of a major disaster, breaking news might even prompt a full interruption of television or radio coverage, with the use of cut-ins and alert crawls. However, this type of news isn’t limited to serious natural catastrophes, and can also include political crises, accidents, or significant social issues.
When reporting on breaking news, be aware that people will have strong opinions about the event and its implications. Be careful not to sway them with unsubstantiated speculation or assumptions. Always confirm eyewitness accounts with authorities. Avoid making unsubstantiated statements about an event, especially those involving the death or injury of an individual. For example, never report that someone has died unless it has been confirmed by authorities.
A well-written news article uses the inverted pyramid style to arrange the most important details at the top of the piece, and less important information at the bottom. Using the inverted pyramid structure ensures that readers can get the main points of your story regardless of how much of it they read, or whether they skim.
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