Breaking news is an event that occurs immediately, often requiring television and radio stations to interrupt regular programming to broadcast updates about it. These events can be anything from a sudden fire or natural disaster to a public health threat or political scandal. Breaking news coverage is usually very quick and focuses on the most current information, but can often be inaccurate because it is so fluid. In a rush to get the story first, some journalists may even report names of people who have been hurt or killed before loved ones have been notified.
As a result, breaking news can cause confusion and distress for viewers and readers. To alleviate this, stations should determine a plan for how to cover these stories in the most accurate way possible while also limiting speculation and repetition. It is also important to think about how breaking news will be reported on social media and how that might impact the way the station delivers its content to closed captioning users.
When delivering bad news, it’s important to focus on the bigger objective of the conversation rather than the actual delivery of the information itself. This approach shifts the dynamic between the messenger and recipient from being at odds to working together toward a desired goal. For example, in a corporate context that might be getting an employee to transition smoothly and find a new job as soon as possible, or in a law enforcement context, it could be encouraging someone to stay calm, seek help, and maintain healthy family relationships.
