Breaking news is a story that is developing rapidly, often with immediate impact. It may be a terrorist attack, natural disaster, or a major accident. It may require immediate attention to protect people or property, and requires reporters to interrupt regular programming to provide updates as they become available. The urgency of breaking news makes it more difficult to verify facts and avoid sensationalism. It also poses ethical dilemmas for journalists, including the need to keep audiences informed versus respecting the privacy of victims and witnesses.
If a television or radio station is reporting on a breaking news event, its usual non-news program will be interrupted with a special graphic and countdown sequence, alerting viewers to the impending interruption. A news anchor will then appear to explain what is happening, and the network feed may be briefly replaced by a “Newsflash” or “Special report” ticker.
The world faces many challenges that threaten the well-being of its people, including climate change, conflict and the need for greater global cooperation in tackling terrorism. The United Nations, through its Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), is leading efforts to ensure that no one is left behind as a result of these challenges.
When reporting on breaking news, be careful to avoid speculating based on inconclusive information or speculation from sources that may not be fully verified. Private citizens can rely on their own observations, but reporters must be cautious about making assumptions about what is happening, and remember that Murphy’s Law applies: the one time you assume something will happen is usually the one time it doesn’t.