Breaking news refers to events that are happening right now and need to be reported immediately. These events are often unexpected and have a major impact on society. Examples of breaking news include natural disasters, political scandals or terrorist attacks.
A breaking news story begins with a lead that grabs reader attention and quickly explains the main point of the story. This is usually a dramatic anecdote or a surprising fact that provides context for the story. It also answers the five Ws (who, what, when, where and why) in a concise way.
The next part of a breaking news article is the nut graph, which expands on the lead with detailed information. This is often based on interviews with experts and eyewitnesses. When writing a nut graph, it’s important to avoid making assumptions. Even if you know something, it’s worth checking with authorities to make sure your facts are accurate. Otherwise, you may end up reporting a wrong event. In the rush to get a breaking story up, even respected media outlets have made mistakes in the past.
Breaking news articles also often include lower thirds and alert crawls to add urgency and visual interest. This is especially true for severe weather events, like hurricanes or tornadoes. In addition, breaking news articles are usually shorter than other types of journalism. This is to keep readers engaged without distracting them with too much unnecessary detail. Despite the brevity, it’s important to still include all essential elements of a news article.