Do you remember the days when Breaking News was reserved for the really, really important hot off the press news? The kind of news that will have an impact on the whole country and can even have the effect of changing the trajectory of a nation? You heard that announcement and your heart pounded, and your body trembled because you just knew that something huge happened.
I remember those days.
Challenger exploding, Ronald Reagan being shot, the bombing of Iraq, Rosa Park's death, just off the top of my head.
CNN, in an effort to boost their sagging numbers, have decided to terrorize us by using the breaking news banner every day, every hour, every minute. Every time I have turned to CNN since this morning, they have had breaking news.
At 11:10 PM, Anderson Cooper had, "Breaking News: Second Prison Worker Charged."
Bear in mind that they have been discussing this second worker for days now, and that his arrested happened over 7 hours ago.
Right this minute (11:39 PM) I am looking at: Breaking News: Bible Study Resumes At Emanuel AME.
Tell me exactly how this is breaking news, @cnn? pic.twitter.com/uMu42Hdu4v
— Will McAvoy (@WillMcAvoyACN) April 16, 2014CNN ought to know that when I turn on their channel and see that breaking news banner, I can't click the remote fast enough. They have devalued the act of breaking news, even as they are unnecessarily sending up their viewers blood pressure.
MSNBC seems ready to join in exploiting their viewers by copying CNN's unethical behavior. Hey MSNBC, after news have broken, it is no longer "breaking."
Where are all the professional organizations concerned with principles and standards of journalism?
We need to hear from y'all.