Breaking news is a type of news story that is current and urgent. It’s characterized by events that are occurring now or immediately, such as a natural disaster, a fire, a terrorist attack, or a political event. It prioritizes immediacy, and often results in continuous updates as more information becomes available. Breaking news may interrupt regular programming on television and radio.
Journalists who work on breaking news have a unique challenge, because they must quickly gather and report accurate information about an unfolding story, while still trying to maintain their sense of professionalism. They need to confirm eyewitness accounts, official statements, and social media updates. They must also be careful not to misreport the story or provide false information, as that can have grave consequences for those affected by the situation.
When writing press releases for breaking news, it’s important to personalize the pitch and treat each journalist as a valued individual. Include a personalized subject line to pique their interest and avoid using multiple links, which can trigger spam filters in some cases.
As you can imagine, breaking news stories can be extremely volatile. They can also involve long timelines and many unknowns, which makes it challenging to accurately report on a developing story. Because of these challenges, it’s often necessary to rely on sources rather than witnessing the event firsthand, and that can sometimes lead to mistakes. For example, NPR reported erroneously that Congresswoman Giffords had died because they based their reports on bad information from sources. In the rush to be first, reporters should always be careful to check their facts and never speculate, as that can be dangerous for the people who are living through the crisis.
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