Why is breaking a
news stories a big deal in media business?
Source : Quora
Thanking you,
"Breaking
news" in the news business can mean two different -- and somewhat
contradictory -- things, depending on the context.
A breaking news
story is a story of spontaneous origin that has just happened. Serious crimes,
natural disasters, major court decisions, the deaths of notable people are all
examples of breaking news stories. They often can't be predicted, so every news
organization starts out at pretty much the same place in reporting the story.
But it sounds like
you're talking about the second definition. When a news outlet "breaks
news," it publishes or broadcasts a story that no one else has. News
organizations value these "scoops" for two reasons:
1. Prestige. If
readers come to expect that a particular news organization will often break
news on stories they care about, they'll read that newspaper or watch that
channel first. That news organization will be able to recruit better talent as
journalists seek out employers who are more competitive. And if the scoop is
big enough -- say, a major scandal -- the outlet could be recognized by top
journalism awards like the Pulitzer or the Polk.
2. Audience. When a
news outlet breaks news, there's a moment when it has a story no one else has.
It may have invested days or even weeks of reporting, talking to the major
players, digging up documents and forming the most complete picture of an
issue. Everyone else is playing catch-up. Anybody who wants the most complete
account will go to the original source, and competing outlets have an ethical
obligation to acknowledge the reporting of a rival outlet. The result: More
readers, viewers, and -- increasingly -- web "clicks."
Source : Quora
Thanking you,
