Sky News

A pet peeve of mine when it comes to Sky News:

They're in the middle of an interview, or a report, or something, and the BREAKING NEWS swoosh and strap appear on screen. No reference is made to it. Ten seconds later, the strap animates, and the breaking news is revealed.

What's the point of that ten second delay?

The Breaking news probably just dropped on the wires, they grab your attention by swoosh, breaking news, and then the text producer writes the breaking news then animates, reveals the news.

Is the Sky News breaking news graphic broken of something...

It has been on screen nonstop since Wednesday or Thursday...Can't they turn it off or anyhitng?!?!

That's probably because of all the breaking news with Israel etc. And after a while it does revert back to Middle East crisis.

You do not need a breaking news graphic running constantly for three days.

Sky seems somewhat notorius at this now, and I'd love to see the official definition they have of 'breaking news'.

Admitadly there is a major internation situation unfolding in the middle east but as has been demonstarted previously, Sky's use of a massive onscreen aston is rediculas

I find that when you watch Sky News, with the morning slot being the most obvious example, there is breaking news every couple of minuets. Some of it isn't anything new, anything big, or anything major. It just appears and seems to have a huge amount of importance.

My idea is to have something like the Sky NewsWire. Basiclly stories that are like following up ones in the headlines that is just minor details would be on the wire, while major stories that could be extreamly important would be Breaking News.

For example:

Statement made by politician in Isreal about the situation would be on the NewsWire
An unxpected ceasefire in the situation would be Breaking News

More UK Soldiers killed in Iraq would be the NewsWire
Major problems such as a riot or revolt against the soliders would be Breaking News

In Politics: Another John Prescott scandel would be breaking news
But A following up to the story would be the news wire

The idea isnt really planned out too well as of yet but its just the idea that develops when I see so much Breaking News at one time

To be fair, before the weekend output, I think Sky News has shown less of the Breaking News strap than it has done for a few years.

It's all been XXX Latest.... or News Alert.

There's definatley been a change since the relaunch relaunch.

And be grateful the Breaking News strap is there, because I've seen the dreaded Weekend Active strap now and again this weekend.

EDIT: Have Fox News totally dropped the Breaking News strap nowadays? I only ever see the 'DONG' Fox News Alert.

Fox News has used Fox News Alert to represent breaking news for years.

I for one think that the breaking news straps on Sky News are very useful, especially in the working roles I have, where we have sky news on but muted for much of the day, so to read developments as they get them is very useful indeed.

But that's Fox News. Enough said.



Yeah, but having a strap pointlessly on screen is of no use to anyone, not least an audience which are constantly 'treated' to news alerts, breakings news, newsflashs, the list is endless.

Put simply my problem which Sky News' breaking news strap is that it's not breaking news, far from it.

Jeremy Thompson is anchoring live from Haifa in Israel.

Well you always know when a situation is getting bad when they send the big guys and girls out. Emma Hurd has been doing an excellent job anchoring this weekend. She has a huge breadth of knowledge about the Mid East and it would be a shame to see her go to Africa.

As far as the breaking news strap, I agree that it is more useful than not. A large portion of the audience don't have the sound up on Sky News, so its essential that they convey the news in text form as well.

Am glad it's not just me that's had that thought - she is very good in Jerusalem and Africa, whilst a worthy patch with lots of decent news that could/should be covered (a different argument!), isn't exactly busy.

But maybe if you want a quieter life it's the place to go...?

After all it's where Orla Guerin went after Jerusalem to - and how often do we see her anymore on domestic BBC bulletins at least.