Breaking news
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For other uses, see Breaking news (disambiguation).
Breaking news describes, in television, an interruption of scheduled programming in order to report the latest details of a current event. It commonly suggests a sense of urgency, with appropriate photographs, video, or other related materials to give the viewer a visual idea of what is occurring. The presentation of breaking news varies depending upon the network, but could include a news ticker, logos, and various other graphics. Possibly because some Breaking News stories are unscheduled, networks and affilates usually don;t have enough information to be included or to last a few hours
The terms breaking news and special report are terms used to describe when a broadcast network breaks into regular programming for coverage of an important news story. Some networks and local stations may use the term breaking news interchangeably with special report.
Contents |
[edit] Format
The format of a special report or breaking news consists of an opening graphic with musical emphasis on importance. This is followed with a network anchor being at a desk, welcoming the viewer to the report and introducing the story at hand.
The report can last from a few minutes to several hours. The length depends on the nature of the news. They consist of live coverage of an event and one or more live reports from a correspondent where an event takes place. Speeches are usually followed by the analysis by the anchor and reporters covering the event. ABC, CBS and NBC usually add a "Live Coverage" graphic to live events to differentiate it from a live report on a regular newscast.
When the report is over, the affiliates return to regular programming. Depending upon the report, regular programming is pre-empted or delayed. Delayed programs often air as scheduled when the special report is over, with some pre-emption for scheduled events. During primetime, this often delays the late local news and late night network programming, mainly in the Eastern and Central time zones. The schedule returns to normal overnight.
The longest such preemption occurred on 9/11 and shortly after. On that occasion, ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox did not return to normal programming until overnight on September 15, 2001, four days after the attacks. The networks added news coverage that weekend, largely due to the cancellation of major-league sporting events.
[edit] Usage
Currently, at least in the U.S., continuous breaking news coverage of non-scheduled events is confined to cable television networks. They are not shown nationwide over-the-air, even if circumstances might call for it (e.g. the small plane crash that killed New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle in October 2006). If breaking news airs on broadcast television, it is mainly part of a regularly-scheduled newscast.
According to a 2005 report in Reason magazine, the Federal Communications Commission has restricted such reports by requiring that closed captioning start immediately, and by requiring an oral tone to precede them, like the Emergency Alert System. The same report stated that stations that violate these rules are subject to a $600 fine for each occurrence.
If an event is already scheduled (e.g. State of the Union address or a presidential press conference), networks still will interrupt normal programming and present them live.
[edit] Various Breaking News graphics
 CNN, 2006 |
 CNN Headline News, 2006 |
 MSNBC, 2006 |
 Fox News Channel, 2006 |
 Fox News Special Presentation title card for news coverage on Fox broadcasting |
 ABC News, 2006 |
 NBC News on Today |
 NBC News endcap |
[edit] See also
