When we were reading about the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal last week and how the media became way too immersed in the affair for nearly a year, the part that baffled me most is how NBC interrupted the 1998 Super Bowl to basically say, "We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to say exactly what ABC just said about the Clinton-Lewinsky case."That got me thinking what was actually considered breaking news and which news most viewers would agree trumped their regularly scheduled programming. Here are a few that I found:
1) March 30, 1981 - Reagan Assassination Attempt. Below is a link to ABC's News bulletin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGUrBfp8G2Y
2) January 28, 1986 - The Challenger space shuttle exploded about a minute after it launched. Below is a link to CBS's coverage of the event:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8umF4frzMs
3) June 17th 1994 - O.J. Simpson Police Chase
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxqP1_MFPnc
And of course for those of us who were not watching it live downtown, 9/11.
Do you think these events are all worthy of the term, "breaking news" and would you accept these interruptions of your TV shows? Can anyone remember any other breaking news events that they felt lived up to their title or not?
I think all three of these stories were breaking news worthy.
ReplyDeleteI found two other stories that fall under this category:
1. The capture and execution of Saddam Hussein
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTNslIeo6Tk&playnext=1&list=PL4931B2F3E7A2E6F0
2. The death of Michael Jackson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjuxpeWX2ng&feature=related
Are the deaths of pop figures (yes yes.. even pop kings) really breaking news worthy? I also saw that the death of Elvis was a breaking news moment. Viewers may consider these breaking news moments and would want to be told when their beloved icons have died, but are journalists supposed to consider these events breaking news?
ReplyDelete