History of Breaking news in Timeline

Breaking news refers to a current event significant enough to interrupt scheduled broadcasts for immediate reporting. It's also used for ongoing coverage of major events. However, this practice sometimes faces criticism for potentially sensationalizing the news.

1938: The War of the Worlds radio drama

In 1938, the radio drama 'The War of the Worlds' included fictionalized versions of early news bulletins.

The War Of The Worlds

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1949: KTLA's Extended Coverage of Kathy Fiscus Rescue Attempt

From April 8 to 9, 1949, KTLA in Los Angeles provided 27½ hours of live television coverage of the attempt to rescue three-year-old Kathy Fiscus, who had fallen down an abandoned well in San Marino, California.

1963: Assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy

In 1963, programming interruptions were made for extremely urgent news, such as for the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy.

1999: 1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak

The 1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak, along with other events during the 1990s, led to a heightened urgency to advise those in the storm's path to take safety precautions in advance, resulting in more common extended weather coverage once a high-end alert is issued.

June 2013: WDRB Criticizes Overuse of "Breaking News"

In June 2013, Fox affiliate WDRB in Louisville, Kentucky gained notice for a promo criticizing the overuse of the "breaking news" term, explaining that it has been overused as a "marketing ploy". WDRB posted "Contracts" with its viewers, promising to use "breaking news" judiciously.

2016: Pew Research on News Alerts and The New York Times' Push Notifications

In 2016, the Pew Charitable Trusts found that 55% of U.S. smartphone users received news alerts, though only 13% received them "often." Also in 2016, The New York Times split its push notifications into "Breaking News" and "Top Stories", after modifying its email lists similarly.

2017: Columbia Journalism Review Study on News Apps' Push Notifications

In 2017, The Columbia Journalism Review found that 43% of news apps' push notifications were not related to breaking news.

2018: National Public Radio increased push notifications

In 2018, National Public Radio significantly increased its push notifications, notifying app users about both breaking news and programming information, which led to mixed reactions from its audience.

June 2022: CNN Adds Guidance Limiting "Breaking News"

In June 2022, CNN chief Chris Licht oversaw the addition of guidance regarding the use of "breaking news" to the network's style guide, arguing that overuse had diminished its impact.