A breaking news story is a timely article about an event that has recently occurred and has relevance to a broad audience. Unlike other forms of journalism, such as a feature or an analysis paper, breaking news requires quick turnaround times and must be accurate at the time of publication. To create a strong breaking news article, it is important to focus on the following elements:
Keep it simple. A breaking news article should be concise and easy to understand, especially on a small screen (such as a smartphone). A good practice is to write your headline last to ensure that it is succinct and impactful. It is also helpful to use a summary lead to provide the most crucial information at the top of your article.
Avoid relying on eyewitness accounts of a scene. While they are often dramatic and compelling, they can be misleading. For example, in the aftermath of a shooting that injured Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, NPR reported that she died. This erroneous report was based on an eyewitness account, but it wasn’t verified by authorities.
Obtain quotes from sources who are familiar with the situation. Be sure to cite them properly so that readers can track down the source of your information. This is critical in maintaining your credibility.
Use a variety of sources for your story, including local, national, and international. This will allow your readers to see different perspectives of the same event and help them make informed decisions. Moreover, it is vital to be transparent about the limitations of your research. For example, if you are using a survey to analyze a certain demographic, be clear about the sample size and the margin of error.