Breaking news is the name given to events that are new, urgent or time-sensitive and require immediate reporting. It typically relates to important or significant news stories, such as shootings, explosions, natural disasters and political upheavals. News breaks capture audiences’ attention due to their timeliness and immediacy, which can cause them to interrupt regular programming in order to get updates as they happen.
To be effective, breaking news must provide accurate and comprehensive information that informs without sensationalizing or alarming. It should also avoid rumor, speculation and innuendo. In addition, journalists should strive to verify all information and source sources before sharing it. Often, eyewitness accounts are the best source of information, but they must be vetted carefully to ensure accuracy and credibility.
Providing timely and comprehensive news is particularly challenging in a breaking-news situation. In the rush to be first, it is easy for media outlets to report things that turn out to be wrong. That’s why it’s especially important to develop a breaking-news plan and have a process in place to quickly gather and report information that’s accurate and factual.
A well-written breaking news article starts with a strong lead that hooks the reader and draws them into the story. It should then follow the inverted pyramid style, putting the most important information at the top and building to more detailed information as the story unfolds. A good lead should include the location and date of the event, and a nut graph that connects those facts to the larger context of what’s happening.