Breaking news is a type of emergency journalism that requires immediate reporting on events that may affect the public. It is often reported using real-time updates, eyewitness accounts and public reactions. Social media has a key role in breaking news, with people sharing information on their social networks quickly as events unfold.
Breaking bad news can be very difficult, especially if it is about someone close to you. Knowing how to deliver that news properly can help you avoid making the situation worse for yourself and the person you are telling.
First of all, be sure that you understand the story. Vague information can be confusing, anxiety-provoking and upsetting to the person you are telling it to. You will also want to assess how the person is feeling already, so you can tailor your approach to them. Is this something that has come out of the blue (like a death in the family) or is it something they have been anticipating and worrying about (like losing their job)?
Never make assumptions. It is easy to do when you are reporting on a story that hasn’t happened to you personally, but it is important to follow Murphy’s Law: The one time you assume something, it will be wrong. For example, NPR based their erroneous report on Giffords’ shooting on a single eyewitness account that turned out to be false.
Never publish the names of victims of injury or death before their loved ones have been notified. This can cause additional distress and trauma to families who are trying to cope with the tragedy. If you are conducting interviews with people at the scene of a breaking event, make sure that you tell them in advance not to name anyone on air until their loved ones have been contacted.