In testimony before the House Jan. 6 committee, a Washington D.C. police officer described a heated exchange between former President Trump and the Secret Service the day of the attack.
Breaking news, late-breaking news, special report, and news flash are common terms for “breaking news.” They refer to the latest and most important story of the moment, or to a live story that is of particular interest to viewers. “Breaking news” is also sometimes used to refer to a story that has already been reported by another news organization, and is therefore more ad hoc than newsworthy. The term “breaking news” is sometimes replaced by “just in.”
A break in programming can occur when a national network newscast pauses for a few seconds, or even several hours. The longest news events, such as the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963, lasted days, while the September 11 attacks lasted for three days. In addition, a network may also incorporate analyst commentary into the story. These analysts may be based in studios or via phone. In the latter case, networks may suspend regular commercials to devote their time to the event.
Breaking news is usually accompanied by a live shot of an anchor. The coverage may be extended by a video story or an in-depth news report. A network may choose to continue the live shot of the anchor while a local news station cuts away to a breaking news story. If an anchor is unable to find the source of the story, he or she may pass the coverage to a local reporter who is on location.
