Breaking news is the term for new, urgent information about events that are developing or just occurred, often requiring immediate reporting. These developments capture the public’s attention and may include disasters, political upheavals or other significant occurrences that have the potential to affect large numbers of people. Breaking news stories often interrupt regular programming and are updated frequently as more details become available.
When breaking news, journalists must consider how to balance the need for speed with the need to accurately report and avoid sensationalism. They also must take care not to report the names of victims of injury or death until family members have been notified and confirmed. This can be a challenging task in chaotic and confusing situations such as mass shootings, natural disasters or ongoing investigations.
NPs also face the challenge of breaking bad news to patients and families. While many aspects of delivering this type of difficult message cannot be predicted, using an established communication template or protocol can help to instill quality and empathy into the process.
Ahead of time, assess the person who is receiving your news and determine how they might be feeling about it (e.g., they might already be aware that something is wrong, or they might be in shock). You should also decide what to tell them and how much you are willing and able to share. It might be helpful to prepare yourself for the conversation by taking some time to yourself, exercising, having a cup of coffee or doing some other self-care activity.