Breaking news is a type of news story that reveals information about a noteworthy event as it happens. Often, breaking news is a matter of urgency, and journalists must work quickly to update audiences as events unfold. This can present a challenge in terms of fact-checking and avoiding sensationalism, but can also create an opportunity to build audience trust by providing accurate updates in real time.
A breaking news story begins with a headline and an introductory paragraph that grabs readers’ attention by mentioning the most significant details of the event. A good breaking news article should then follow a standard format, such as the inverted pyramid or “nut graph” (presenting the most important facts first). It should address all of the main points: who, what, when, where and why. Finally, it should place the story in context by describing any other relevant information, such as background or history.
Some news stories use visual elements, such as photos or infographics, to entice readers and illustrate the significance of an event. This can make an breaking news story more readable and engaging, as it can be easier to comprehend when presented in a different way than black-and-white text alone.
In the age of 24-hour news, people are exposed to a lot of information. If a breaking news story is too long and full of unnecessary tangents, readers may become bored or tune out completely. As such, it’s important to keep in mind that news articles are meant to be as brief as possible.