Breaking news is any event of local, national or international importance that requires immediate attention by the media. These events are often unforeseen, and must be reported as they happen. Breaking news is typically reported via special “cut-in” sequences during regular programming, though in recent years some major networks have opted for breaking news tickers which can be activated at any time and eliminate the need for cut-ins.
When a breaking story occurs, it is usually announced by the news anchor with a distinctive music cue. If the event is large enough, the broadcaster will also send a special signal to its affiliates, requesting them to interrupt their own non-news programming and switch to the network feed. This is often done using a graphic and a countdown sequence.
It is important for journalists to carefully check sources when reporting breaking news. Especially with stories that involve people, it is important to never speculate. Eyewitness accounts can be helpful, but they should always be confirmed with authorities or other witnesses. It is easy for an eyewitness to get confused in the chaos of a shooting or other emergency, and their information may be wrong. For example, in the aftermath of the Gabrielle Giffords shooting, many eyewitnesses reported that she had died. NPR based its erroneous report on this source, and many other media outlets followed suit. This is an example of a bad practice, known as “stealing” news. It can be dangerous for the reputation of a journalist or media outlet, and is considered unethical.
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