The Newsroom

Definition of breaking news

(February 2005)

This site closed in March 2021 and is now a read-only archive
PC
p_c_u_k
9.03pm, Sky News are in the middle of a deeply serious report regarding Tony Blair's apology tonight. Suddenly there's a whoosh - oh no, what's happened? Has the Pope died? Has war been declared on Iran? Has Ellen MacArthur eaten?

Nope - "McFly win Best British Pop Act".

This stays up for about two minutes, until someone with some sense clearly tells them to get rid of it. It was not referred to at the end of the report. I take it someone eventually saw sense (or they're wrong, and will just ignore it).
UB
Uncle Bruce
You know Sky News, they have a stiffie for using the breaking news 'Swoosh'.
KA
Katherine Founding member
I thought McFly were American! I freely admit I know bugger-all about alternative rock.... and why have they dropped the Best Dance Act category? To give people an excuse to start saying 'Dance music is Dead'?
BH
bhav
McFly are not alternative-rock Mad They are pseudo-rock for 11 year old girls.
DU
Dunedin
p_c_u_k posted:
9.03pm, Sky News are in the middle of a deeply serious report regarding Tony Blair's apology tonight. Suddenly there's a whoosh - oh no, what's happened? Has the Pope died? Has war been declared on Iran? Has Ellen MacArthur eaten?

Nope - "McFly win Best British Pop Act".

This stays up for about two minutes, until someone with some sense clearly tells them to get rid of it. It was not referred to at the end of the report. I take it someone eventually saw sense (or they're wrong, and will just ignore it).


That is just AWFUL.

It would be pushing it for an Oscar announcement, but the Brit Awards?
AN
Ant
I think some of these results are a bit stupid. Have a look here.
WM
Weather Man
Antz posted:
I think some of these results are a bit stupid. Have a lookhere.


International group: Scissor Sisters
Also nominated: Green Day, Maroon 5, OutKast, U2.!

GREEN DAY should have WON!

i think Sky News have to get their breaking news policy right, before this big revamp soon, cos it isnt good for their reputation
AN
Andrew Founding member
Katherine posted:
I thought McFly were American!

almost right, one of them's from Bolton in Lancashire...
Quote:
I freely admit I know bugger-all about alternative rock.... and why have they dropped the Best Dance Act category? To give people an excuse to start saying 'Dance music is Dead'?

I've heard people call McFly a lot of things (an easy line for a reply there) line but not alternative rock.
LO
Londoner
Weather Man posted:
i think Sky News have to get their breaking news policy right, before this big revamp soon, cos it isnt good for their reputation

I don't think it's as shocking as some people are suggesting.

A trivial story breaks during a serious story. Happens all the time. Big deal.
BA
Bacchic
Londoner posted:
Weather Man posted:
i think Sky News have to get their breaking news policy right, before this big revamp soon, cos it isnt good for their reputation

I don't think it's as shocking as some people are suggesting.

A trivial story breaks during a serious story. Happens all the time. Big deal.


Well, if it's a trivial breaking news story - as this undoubtably was - then they should wait until after the serious story to break it - otherwise it comes across as being in very poor taste
AJ
AJ
Bacchic posted:
Londoner posted:
Weather Man posted:
i think Sky News have to get their breaking news policy right, before this big revamp soon, cos it isnt good for their reputation

I don't think it's as shocking as some people are suggesting.

A trivial story breaks during a serious story. Happens all the time. Big deal.


Well, if it's a trivial breaking news story - as this undoubtably was - then they should wait until after the serious story to break it - otherwise it comes across as being in very poor taste


It's not quite breaking news then, though, is it? Laughing

Sky's policy is to be the fastest with Breaking News, and as such things like this are going to happen from time to time. I'm sure the news was interesting to somebody out there.... surely??
PC
p_c_u_k
Depends on your definition of breaking news. But they presumably didn't use the swoosh every two minutes for every single category, so why do it for this one?

Newer posts