Breaking news refers to new and important events that are happening now or just occurred, and need to be reported immediately. These stories may be unexpected, such as a plane crash or building fire. They are usually considered to be the most important stories of the day, and news organizations compete fiercely to report them first. The urgency of breaking news requires journalists to make quick decisions about what information to include in a story, often relying on eyewitness accounts and public reactions. This type of reporting can create ethical challenges, as it can be difficult to balance the need for speed with the need to avoid spreading misinformation.
During a breaking news event, always verify all information with multiple sources, and never assume anything. Even highly respected media outlets can get it wrong in the rush to be first. For example, NPR erroneously reported that Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords had died; her survival was confirmed the next morning. Always confirm with authorities any information you receive from eyewitnesses. And be wary of rumors and gossip. Remember Murphy’s Law: the one time you assume something is true, it will invariably turn out to be false.
Consider how you will interrupt programming to deliver breaking news, and how to provide context on air and online, including your news crawls. For example, if an emergency occurs in which someone has been injured or killed, plan for how to quickly obtain their names and notify families of the incident.