The primary objectives for breaking news coverage are immediacy and accuracy. This protocol primarily serves to ensure the former; the latter must be enforced through culture, as no process can replace good news judgment. The same standards for quality, accuracy and ethics apply to breaking news as to the regular production cycle.
Newsworthy events can happen anywhere, at any time. If any staff member, regardless of position, becomes aware of a potential breaking story, they should immediately notify the on-call editor via a text message. If they do not respond to a text, try a phone call or Slack message.
If the on-call does not answer their phone, send a message to the Managing Editor.
The staff-member who sends the tip will receive a contribution credit in the final story. While they are welcome to contribute further reporting or writing at the direction of the Breaking News Editor, they are not obligated to do so.
Once alerted, the Breaking News Editor should determine 1) whether the story is credible; and 2) whether the story is newsworthy enough to warrant breaking coverage, or should wait for the next regular production cycle.
If the story is both credible and newsworthy, the breaking news editor should make a best effort to notify the Editor in Chief, the Managing Editor and the News Editor. If a more senior editor is available, they may at their discretion relieve the Breaking News Editor and assume control of the story.
If the story is not newsworthy enough to warrant breaking news coverage, but should still be included in the next print edition, a reporter on the news desk may be reassigned to cover it, with their existing story pushed to the next cycle.
If they deem it necessary, the Breaking News Editor may publish a breaking news alert to appear on The Mass Media’s social media pages and above the flag on the website. This alert should be short, similar in form to a hard news lede, including the who, what, when, where, why and how. They should take care to avoid publishing information that is not confirmed; breaking news is not an excuse for inaccuracy.
The Breaking News Editor should weigh the benefit and potential consequences of publishing a breaking news alert before the full story.
While other staff members are reporting, the Breaking News Editor — or a writer who volunteers, at the discretion of the Breaking News Editor — will begin work on the “lede-all.”
The lede-all is a term stolen from The New York Times, referring to the primary story about a major event. It should touch on every aspect of a breaking event at a high level, weaving together information from numerous reporters to form one cohesive, well-rounded story. More in-depth information about a specific aspect would be included in follow-up coverage hours, days, or weeks later.