This Just In

How should we react to breaking news?

Lesson Objective

  • Define breaking news, and understand why individuals and news outlets want to be first to report a story.

  • Analyze breaking news alerts to identify clues of false or incomplete information.

  • Reflect on the consequences of reacting right away to breaking news alerts.

Vocabulary 

bias: showing a strong opinion or preference for or against something or someone

24/7 news cycle: 24-hour, seven-day-a-week investigating and reporting of news via television, radio, print, online, and mobile app devices

breaking news: information being reported about an event that has just happened or is currently occurring