Breaking news is a term that is used in the media to describe events that are being reported to the general public in real time. These events are usually deemed as major news, and can include breaking sports scores, breaking political news, and other headlines. While these events are important, it can also be a source of controversy. There are some who argue that breaking news has a negative effect on society and focuses more on the drama than on the facts. In fact, some say that a lack of accurate information in breaking news can be a contributing factor to crime and violence.
Critics of breaking news
Journalists are aware that criticism can be a negative force. They have a responsibility to respond to critics. However, they question the legitimacy of most media critiques. Moreover, they claim that criticisms affect how they behave. The aim of this study was to explore journalists’ perceptions of criticism and their views on how it influences journalistic practice.
Among the different types of criticism, most journalists preferred rational, instructive, and fair criticism. But they also rejected unfounded, unbalanced, and unfair criticism. Despite this, they believed that analytical criticism was rare. Some viewed offensive criticisms as useful for gauging the audience’s feelings and for predicting future reactions.
However, journalists did not accept the suggestions of media critics as realistic and actionable. Instead, they preferred to rely on their knowledge of news processes, the norms and values of their institutions, and their own judgment. Their perceptions of media criticism could provide important insights into its viability as an instrument of journalist accountability.