Breaking news refers to new and urgent events that are developing and require immediate reporting. This type of news can range from natural disasters to significant political events and social issues that require urgent updates. Often, breaking news requires journalists to interrupt regular programming to deliver updates and can be difficult to verify due to its fluid nature and the speed of online reporting.
Write a headline that captures the reader’s attention, but keep in mind that it should also convey a sense of urgency. Avoid using cliches, as they can be seen as boring and overused.
Develop an approach for how your team will cover breaking news, determining the key information that the public needs to know. Identify the best source of information and if possible, verify that information with experts and eyewitness accounts. Determine how your team will interrupt programming and the format of alerts that may appear on social media and the broadcast.
In the past, when breaking news occurred, television stations would normally pause their current non-news program for a cut-in to announce a live report. Today, 24-hour news networks are more likely to break into regular programming and use a news crawl to provide updates.