breaking news

[the fixxxer]

what qualifies as breaking news?
there are obvious things...terror attacks, massive school problem, massive traffic problem, etc
but what about on a daily basis...is it good to call almost everything breaking news?
plus, if you continually call things breaking news when it's not really breaking news (i.e. your station just found about it/it happened about 3 o clock and it's now 11 o clock and you have no true update on the situation, but you just found out)
it seems like we may be insulting the viewers intelligence by labeling things when they actually aren't?
graemlins/icon_kidra.gif graemlins/icon_kidra.gif graemlins/icon_kidra.gif

[Reportersrcool]

Agreed. But i consider anything that is of mass appeal to the audience that happened within two hours or less of the newscast breaking news. We were on air when Jill Carroll news broke that definitely would qualify. Anybody that calls news that happened at 3 pm breaking news for thier 11 pm newscast is out of line. I could see the 5 pm newscast saying that.

[The Sleeper]

Really?
2 Hours prior and the event is not happening at 5PM?
So, an AP story that everyone gets at 3PM on the wires is Breaking News at 5PM?
Sorry...but no.
Breaking news implies it is happening at that moment or happened just moments ago...
It is disengenous to the viewers and will, while in the short term get you some quick ratings, will, eventually, kill you when people realize they cannot trust you.

[Reportersrcool]

No ap stories dont count.

[ April 02, 2006, 11:57 AM: Message edited by: Reportersrcool ]

[Reportersrcool]

Unless its moments before the newscast and has mass appeal. Use common sense.

[ April 02, 2006, 11:58 AM: Message edited by: Reportersrcool ]

[The Sleeper]

But, you are still saying that a story that breaks at 3PM is breaking news at 5PM?
Even if the event is over?
It's still the lead, your crew is abck in house...it's still "breaking news"?
Or, it breaks on AP and your video feed service gets you video...it's 2 hours later...it's breaking news?

[east coast producer]

I've always tried to apply the "Active Scene" rule. If it's a shooting, are cops still on scene with trippy flashing lights, crime scene tapes and possibly roads blocked to the public? If there are two cops standing outside the convenience store guarding the entrance, then probably not.

I think the label is well overused at my shop, and it makes me cringe to hear an anchor utter that catchphrase when it clearly is not.

[ April 02, 2006, 12:12 PM: Message edited by: east coast producer ]

[Reportersrcool]

Ron depends on the situation...for ex if a murder happened at 3 pm. For the 5 pm it would be breaking news. There is rarely going to be news that happens minutes before air time. As long as its a big enough story and close to air time its breaking news but producers need to use their own judgement what they call breaking news. The murder is over but the investigation and people on scene are still there yes its breaking news. When the video comes in has nothing to do with whether something is labeled breaking news or not.

[product of communism]

Originally posted by Reportersrcool:
Ron depends on the situation...for ex if a murder happened at 3 pm. For the 5 pm it would be breaking news. There is rarely going to be news that happens minutes before air time. As long as its a big enough story and close to air time its breaking news but producers need to use their own judgement what they call breaking news. The murder is over but the investigation and people on scene are still there yes its breaking news. When the video comes in has nothing to do with whether something is labeled breaking news or not.You need to go back to school. I would be hesitant to call anything that happens BEFORE show time "breaking news" and I've been a producer for 5 years.

If you're doing it right, the phrase "breaking news" should air on your station only about once a month.

For example:
An un-named station in my market uses breaking news animation to open their shows 10-15 times a month. Last week, they did a story we broke the week before. It was about local police who shot a dog. Some of the bullets went into a woman's home, and she's pissed. They did the story 5 days after we did, and reported it as "breaking news." They really suck.

[Reportersrcool]

Ok cuz you know it all. If its still happening its breaking news.

[The Sleeper]

So, the shooting happened at 3PM, you led the 5PM with breaking news and at 10PM, because cops are still on the scene investigating, it's breaking news?
I've seen that done and that's stupid and I've been "doing this" for 16 years now.

[ April 02, 2006, 12:58 PM: Message edited by: Ron Giordan ]

[Reportersrcool]

Originally posted by Ron Giordan:
So, the shooting happened at 3PM, you led the 5PM with breaking news and at 10PM, because cops are still on the scene investigating, it's breaking news?
I've seen that done and that's stupid and I've been "doing this" for 16 years now.Didnt say anything about the 10 but i would with the 5 pm. It happened close enough to airtime and is a big story. I'd only call it breaking news if there are still cops on scene.

[product of communism]

Originally posted by Reportersrcool:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Ron Giordan:
So, the shooting happened at 3PM, you led the 5PM with breaking news and at 10PM, because cops are still on the scene investigating, it's breaking news?
I've seen that done and that's stupid and I've been "doing this" for 16 years now.Didnt say anything about the 10 but i would with the 5 pm. It happened close enough to airtime and is a big story. I'd only call it breaking news if there are still cops on scene.</font>[/QUOTE]You're an idiot. Thank God reporters don't get to decide whether it's called breaking.

[ April 02, 2006, 01:04 PM: Message edited by: product of communism ]

[Reportersrcool]

ok im an idiot. You are the one calling yourself communism. If its still happening its breaking thats all there is to it.

[product of communism]

Originally posted by Reportersrcool:
ok im an idiot. You are the one calling yourself communism. If its still happening its breaking thats all there is to it.Ahh, yes - you argue *for* one of the most annoying, consultant-driven, style-over-substance additions to the evening news, I argue *against* it and the best you can come-back with is that you don't like my log-in name.

Deep man, deep.

[product of communism]

Originally posted by Reportersrcool:
ok im an idiot. You are the one calling yourself communism. If its still happening its breaking thats all there is to it.And no, if it's still happening, it's not breaking. If it's still happening, it's still happening.

[The Sleeper]

I'm sorry...but I will have to rephrase a previous post, then.
If it's still happening hours after the initial event, it's "continuing coverage" with "team coverage" followed by "exclusive" and "investigation".

The problem, Reporter---whatever, is that the use of these "catch" phrases dumbs down an already "dumbed-down" product. Viewers have gotten much wiser, but "Insultants" have not. (i'm going to get my ass chewed out for this at work tomorrow). Insultants come in and say, "Use this phrase, use that, brand this, brand that." That might work for a station with no identity. But it's all short term. The viewers do turn and see "Breaking news" and think, "wow..this station is really on top of things." But they're not watching the other stations in town covering the same story at the same time not labeling it "breaking news.
Yet, one day, they might flip..and they'll see the other stations not calling it breaking news and wonder, "gee...it really wasn't breaking? Station C must be liars." And that's the end of that.

We need to stop dumbing down our news to the lowest common denominator! Using "breaking" hours after an event because there's still police or a march or something is not right. It's an innaccurate portrayal of "news" and is disengenous to your viewers.

Consultants out there reading this: Please don't be offended. If you're looking to hire a new generation of consultant, I post here under my own name! tongue.gif (the money's good, folks...don't lie to yourself!)

[Reportersrcool]

Please enlighten me on why its continuing coverage if it has not been covered before. Thats an interesting concept.

[ April 02, 2006, 03:28 PM: Message edited by: Reportersrcool ]

[Roy Hobbs]

Give 'em heck Ronny! Insultants...that's great! Everything was breaking at my last shop, the ancient news, the ancient edit bays, the ancient cars.
http://www.gemworld.com/Collectibles/Wrench-RR-MHold1L.jpg

Got Breaking News? Fix it with Insultant B.S. Anchor copy sold seperately. From Ronco.

[The Sleeper]

Originally posted by Reportersrcool:
Please enlighten me on why its continuing coverage if it has not been covered before. Thats an interesting concept.I'd like to introduce you to a concept called "sarcasm". The example is the first paragraph of my previous post.

But, I'll play along with you.
If it was breaking news at 5PM from a 3PM event, at 6 and at 11, it's continuing coverage.

Gee...was that hard for you?

[SamG]

Here's a situation we had last week...

Bad accident on the interstate in our state... about 90 minutes from the station. We had time to:
1) Drive to the location
2) Shoot Video
3) Edit video
4) Send tape back for 5

Now, granted, the interstate was still closed down at 5. We had it as "Breaking News" at 5 AND at 6. I don't remember what state the road was in (open or closed) at 6. Do you consider this Breaking News at 5? 6? Both? Neither?

[thenewsleader12345]

anything that is happening right now... OR...still developing.

[The Sleeper]

Originally posted by SamG:
Here's a situation we had last week...

Bad accident on the interstate in our state... about 90 minutes from the station. We had time to:
1) Drive to the location
2) Shoot Video
3) Edit video
4) Send tape back for 5

Now, granted, the interstate was still closed down at 5. We had it as "Breaking News" at 5 AND at 6. I don't remember what state the road was in (open or closed) at 6. Do you consider this Breaking News at 5? 6? Both? Neither?Do I consider it "Breaking"?
No.
Would I label it "breaking"?
Probably with the live and interstate closed.
If the interstate was reopened, then no...it's not breaking.
Also, it's a fricken car accident!!!!
Let's turn this conversation to a different level!
Why are car accidents breaking news? At what point does it "rise to the level"?

[east coast producer]

Originally posted by Ron Giordan:
[QBWould I label it "breaking"?
Probably with the live and interstate closed.
...
Why are car accidents breaking news? At what point does it "rise to the level"?[/QB]I think you answered your own question, no? I'd call it breaking news if it affected a significant amount of traffic. If a wreck's shutdown a direction of an Interstate at rush hour, sure. If an accident slows traffic on County Road 7 (the one past Bob's farm house, before the ol' saw mill -- if you come to the duck crossing, you've gone too far), then no.

[FD2BLK]

The designation of Breaking News changes at the whim of management.

[The Sleeper]

Originally posted by FD2BLK:
The designation of Breaking News changes at the whim of management.Yep...that's we're called "management".

ECP: I did answer my own question. Sorry.

[The Mockingbird]

No one cares if you have the breaking news graphic up anymore. The cable news outlets run the graphic so many times, with so little cause, that it's a "cry wolf" situation.

My favorite was the Larry King re-run with breaking news drops in it from a month before. Nice.

[Anonymous User Dude]

Originally posted by Ron Giordan:
But, you are still saying that a story that breaks at 3PM is breaking news at 5PM?
Even if the event is over?
It's still the lead, your crew is abck in house...it's still "breaking news"?
Or, it breaks on AP and your video feed service gets you video...it's 2 hours later...it's breaking news?How about Developing Story? Accurate, and timely, I think .. especially if the story is -- you know -- developing!

[The Sleeper]

You could use developing story for almost any story, though, that is not event driven.
Most of the time, it's an issue that is always developing.

But, for this discussion, Developing Story would work if:
a) there is still more info we're not able to present the viewer.
b) The event is still happening and causing other problems
c) It will not be over anytime soon.

Again, this is all subjective...which is the irony of "objectively" communicating the news.

[News Is Broken]

Saw this on a memo in the break room today:

"ATTENTION ON-AIR STAFF:

It has come to our attention that there is some confusion as to what constitutes 'breaking news'. After much brain type things inside our heads, we have determined that it should be this station's policy from this day foreward, that anything happening that did not happen since our last newscast, on any day of the week that ends in 'Y', shall be considered breaking news until the next newscast, upon which it shall no longer be considered 'breaking news' but instead shall be considered 'broken news' - and treated accordingly.

-Management."

So there you go. Mystery solved.

[Ryder13]

There's one other thing (at least) to be considered. As has been mentioned before, "How does it affect YOUR audience?" -- emphasis on the 'your'.

There was universal interest in the Jill Carroll release -- so that could be considered 'breaking news'. Today's decision by Tom DeLay to not seek re-election -- it's certainly breaking news to the networks and in Texas and Washington D.C. -- anywhere else, I think it's a reach.
Now, how about the cargo plane crash in Dover? Same thing as to the DeLay story -- but one of the local newscasts LED with this as "Breaking News".

I was at a loss to understand how this affected anyone in the viewing area to that degree. The local transit strike -- absolutely! But, why this fascination with the term 'breaking news'. In the case of the plane crash, what would be wrong with saying "THIS JUST IN to the Channel X Newsroom...." Why has that phrase seemingly fallen out of favor? (Or will it soon be the next big thing? AFter all, everything old is new again sometime.)

I once worked at a station that decided (several times) that they were going to become the markets 'breaking news' leader. Anyway one of these times to that end, an elaborate procedure to handle breaking news was put into place. It included, among other things, announcing over the PA system that we were in a 'breaking news' situation.

We used it once, maybe twice and then it simply faded away. Mind you, it actually did work, we beat our competitors soundly with this -- but we were understaffed and to make this work all the time -- we would have needed to hire more people. Guess which sentiment won?

[Buck T. Trend]

We were actually told to "lower the bar" on what we considered to be Breaking News, because our consultant's research showed that people paid more attention to Breaking News.

NO $#!T? You needed RESEARCH to tell you this?

When you scare people with the big, bold, red graphics with special "Breaking News" music and stinger for every penny ante fender-bender that happened four hours ago, people stop paying attention. And when there really IS Breaking News, you won't have any viewers left to scare... or at least, any intelligent ones.