Methodology

How We Decide Whether It Is Breaking News

This page explains the standard used by Is It Breaking News? when reviewing posts labeled as “breaking news.”

The Basic Standard

A story should generally be considered breaking news when it is urgent, developing, time-sensitive, and important for the public to know as events are unfolding.

A story can be important to the community without being breaking news. Local sports, school updates, official announcements, community events, and follow-up reports may matter, but that does not automatically make them breaking news.

What Usually Counts

  • Active public safety emergencies
  • Severe weather threats
  • Major road closures or evacuations
  • Developing crime or emergency situations
  • Official alerts requiring immediate public awareness

What Usually Does Not Count

  • Routine announcements
  • Completed sports results
  • General community updates
  • Promotional posts
  • Stories with no urgent public need

How Reviews Are Evaluated

Each review asks one central question: Did this story truly need the “breaking news” label?

1

Urgency

Was the information immediate or time-sensitive?

2

Public Need

Did people need to know right away for safety, awareness, or decision-making?

3

Developing Nature

Was the situation still unfolding when it was labeled breaking news?

4

Label Accuracy

Was “breaking news” being used as a factual description rather than a marketing label?

Community Voting

Visitors may vote on whether they believe a reviewed post qualifies as breaking news. Votes are intended to reflect public opinion, not a final legal or journalistic ruling.

The goal is not to attack local media. The goal is to encourage clearer, more responsible use of urgent news labels.

Important Note

This project may focus on examples from Today’s Talk KWOC because that usage inspired the project. However, each reviewed post should still be judged by the same standard: urgency, public need, developing nature, and accuracy of the label.