With the health of the Queen mother in doubt, what do people think about News organisations using Breaking News on reporting peoples deaths. I personaly think it looks very insensitive especially when the subject is old or ill. The BBC seams to vary its policy. What do others think?
People's deaths are usually annouced with the words 'Some sad news just in from the world of...'
Obviously during Princess Diana's death all of the networks had breaking news astons up for the night and most of the next day. That was because the story was constantly developing.
It really depends who the person is. For example, if the Queen Mother were to die, without a doubt we would get breaking news graphics.
Breaking news isn't used like it used to be though. It used to be literally news that has just broken and then it would be replaced later with a regular looking graphic. Unless the event was very important.
Now breaking news is really used as an attention grabber, not for stories 'just in'.
Sky actually have a special 'just in' graphic for the top left of the screen, but it is rarely used.
CNN now use their little black breaking news 'tag' for many of their stories, even though they aren't at all 'breaking'.
It will be interesting to see what happens to Sky's breaking news graphics though. I can't think they are keeping the current set of graphics.
Although the specially designed graphics for the the Ealing bombing were excellent.
SZ
Sub Zero
I think it can be sometimes insensitive the way BREAKING NEWS caption comes up on people's deaths, however if this person is of great significance to the UK and around the world, a breaking news caption is needed.
And please stop going on about queen mother and how she is going to die soon... I am not a fan of the monarchy at all but I feel that she is the best in the Royal Family. Please leave her alone, you never know Prince Charles could die next, through Polo accident. Don't presume she'll be next. I'm sorry to sound nasty if I do.
I'm not presuming she'll be next. Who knows an outbreak of food posioning at her birthday lunch could wipe out the lot of them. However as she is 101 the chances of her dying soon must be very high. Sorry but that's life!!!
JN
jnlplj1
Marcus posted:
I'm not presuming she'll be next. Who knows an outbreak of food posioning at her birthday lunch could wipe out the lot of them. However as she is 101 the chances of her dying soon must be very high. Sorry but that's life!!!
That's what all the people say
James
BB
BBC Choice
It may be insensitive to use 'Breaking News' to announce a death, but that's what it is: breaking news.
Although most news channels have mourning music, they hopefully don't have mourning graphics!! 'Sad News!' flashing up and down the N24 astons! Awful!!
MG
MikeG
How did Sky announce Diana's death? Did they have a 'Breaking News' aston?
I know ITN did it by Dermot looking at the newswire on a screen and saying it to camera but there were no astons as ITN didn't have them at that time.
I think that its fine, if the news is just breaking otherwise there is no point, also if someone famous broke an arm or leg, and they reported it quickly would they put the breaking news caption, personally I would find that hilarious.
Sky actually have a special 'just in' graphic for the top left of the screen, but it is rarely used.
CNN now use their little black breaking news 'tag' for many of their stories, even though they aren't at all 'breaking'.
Really, Sky don't use that very often anymore? I always thought that was a good system, 'Just In' for news, erm, just in, 'Latest' for a new development and then 'Breaking News' for something really important.
And, yeah, I agree, the impact 'Breaking News' is being watered down by overuse. It used to be that when you turned on CNN and saw the old yellow 'BREAKING NEWS' aston you thought 'Oh my God, what's happened??' but these days you see it practically every time you switch on.
One thing I do know is that BBC News 24 have sombre idents and BBC World have a special collection of themes (ident, stings, end with variated lengths) and a sombre collection. The special one fades into the whole BBC World News ident, whereas the sombre ones are incorporated into it and is slowed down with a sombre beat fading into the studio.
