Breaking news is an event that happens right now and needs to be reported immediately. It includes things like shootings, fires, severe weather events and other unexpected occurrences. It’s important for journalists to have the ability to quickly report breaking news, but they must also be careful not to sensationalize stories or mislead the public.
A good breaking news article will have a headline that grabs the reader’s attention and provides an overview of what happened. It will often include the answers to the five Ws (who, what, when, where and why). It should be written in a format known as the inverted pyramid, meaning that the most important information goes first and then less important details follow. The story should also provide a source for the information, whether that’s an interview, a government document or a web site.
Writing a breaking news article requires the use of journalism skills that are different from other types of writing. It’s helpful to study how established news outlets cover similar events and learn their language, word choices and reporting style. It’s also a good idea to get feedback from more experienced reporters to help hone your own skills.
During an actual breaking news event, it’s common for a radio or television station to interrupt regular programming and use a countdown clock to alert affiliate stations to the event. Then, a news anchor will introduce the event and lead into live reporting.