Breaking News...

So, I have a modern day gripe about news. I enjoy watching the news (although don't think there are enough happy stories in it). I think it's important to keep up to date with what is going on in our world.

What bugs me is the (in my opinion at least) over-use of "Breaking News". Most likely, because nowadays many of the major networks have their own rolling 24 hour channels and they have to try to keep interest up.

To me, the term breaking news should be used as it once was (exclusively for major stories) and not for 'new news'....I can conclude from the word "news" itself that the clue in how current I should expect the information to be is in the first three letters! Instead it should be for when a story of great significance breaks, that is truly world changing, affecting potentially millions of people.

As far as I'm concerned, "Breaking news", is a term to be used only in the announcement of news such as a terrorist attack, the assassination of a leading figure, a natural or man made disaster, significant threat to public health or safety, significant political event or declaration of war etc. It should not be used to announce the resignation of a minor celebrity from his or her reality TV show, or the England football manager naming his squad for an upcoming match.

Taking a quote from my manager, a very inspirational man, best describes this situation:

"When people (journalists, politicians, TED awardees, etc.) want me to be excited about something I ask myself, "Will this matter in 1/10/100 years?" This test helps you get through the news efficiently in a few minutes and most political conversations in few seconds. Best part is that it frees time to engage in important issues like education, clean water, valid elections, ocean health, and interpersonal concern."
I would much prefer news makers to take the attitude of considering the impact the breaking news story actually has. Perhaps one solution would be to have a new phrase, or scale of breaking news.

At the moment, if I have the news on the TV on in the background (often on mute), or pottering around and I see the "Breaking news" ticker appear on screen, or the news presenter utter "We're just getting some breaking news", I have no idea whether I'm about to hear that nuclear war is starting and I should probably not bother setting a programme reminder, or a golfer is apologising for not being able to keep his pants on (which really should not by classed as breaking news in my view!). Maybe Breaking News 1 (news just in) and Breaking news 2 (terrorists attack a major world city) are needed. Personally, I'd rather just cut out the 'news just in' and go back to breaking news only being something significant.

Well anyway, sometimes I decide to write a blog post but don't necessarily know what'll unfold. Today, my neurons just happen to make these thoughts.