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Occasionally, a breaking news event will be so important that it warrants an interruption of current non-news programming or of a regularly scheduled national network newscast. When this occurs, a “Newsflash” or “Special Report” graphic is displayed (either alone or over a countdown sequence) and the program or network feed is halted. The broadcaster then explains the significance of the story and provides details about it. The special report is often followed by a live segment with an on-site correspondent or by a studio analysis, depending on the importance of the story.
What Is Breaking News?
Before the advent of 24-hour news channels, breaking news was usually limited to events that elicited nationwide coverage and required numerous stations to interrupt their regular programming (such as the assassination of John F. Kennedy). In addition to these specialized reports, many stations now run regular lower third alert crawls or “special weather” tickers during normal programs when severe storms or other disasters occur.
