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Breaking news is a type of television or radio report that interrupts regular non-news programming to provide current information about an event that warrants immediate coverage. A breaking news event may also be referred to as a newsflash, special report, or simply a special bulletin. Before the existence of 24-hour news networks, breaking news reports were usually only provided in the case of extremely urgent events, such as the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, which prompted numerous stations to suspend their programming and air special coverage immediately after the event. Breaking news coverage is normally initiated by a network with an audio cue that instructs all affiliated stations to stand by and switch to the network feed. The network may then launch a graphic with a countdown sequence that alerts the viewer to the story at hand. In addition, lower thirds and other graphics may be altered to convey the sense of urgency.
