9

Journalism (English)
Quarter 3 – Module 1:
[[

Breaking News
and Flash Reports

1
Grade 9-Journalism (English)
Competency: Write illustrative examples of breaking news and flash reports
(SPJ9NEW-IIIa-46).
 Development Team of English Learning Kit

Writers: Nicola Pelagia Lin-ay Hornada, Joan Nacita,Maria Linda Vilbar,

Mitchelle Tabaosares
Illustrators: Armand Glenn S. Lapor, Mark T. Dasa
Layout Artists: Lilibeth E. Larupay, Armand Glenn S. Lapor, Jun Victor Bactan,
Ricky T. Salabe
Division Quality Assurance Team:
Lilibeth E. Larupay, Dr. Ruby Therese P. Almencion
Armand Glenn S. Lapor, G.L. John C. Haro,
Eugenio L. Mallorca, Edmelyn R. Melanday
Management Team: Ma. Gemma M. Ledesma Dr. Josilyn S. Solana,
Dr. Elena P. Gonzaga Donald T. Genine,
Dr. Paul Nestor M. Pingil Dr. Roel F. Bermejo
Dr. Nordy D. Siason, Jr. Dr. Lilibeth T. Estoque
Dr. Azucena T. Falales Ruben S. Libutaque
Lilibeth E. Larupay Dr. Ruby Therese P. Almencion

Breaking News and Flash Reports

2
Grade 9-Journalism (English)
TARGET
Competency: Write illustrative examples of breaking news and flash reports
(SPJ9NEW-IIIa-46).
 At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
1. define breaking news and flash reports; and
2. write breaking news and flash reports.

EXPLORE

A breaking news story can be anything. It can be a

shooting, a fire, or a tornado. A lot of media outlets are
covering the same thing, so there's fierce competition to get
the story first. But you also have to get it right.

The problem is, breaking news stories are typically the

most chaotic and confusing to cover. And too often, media
1
outlets in a rush to be first end up reporting things that turn
out to be wrong. In the age of digital journalism, breaking
news stories often have immediate deadlines, with reporters
rushed to get stories online.1
This module will help you understand breaking news
and flash reports. Before we start, let’s first test your prior
knowledge on the given topic. Below are the questions to be
answered on your Journalism 9 notebook.

Activity 1: LET’S TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE!

1. What is your idea about breaking news and flash reports?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
2. Do breaking news and flash reports play an important role in our society? Why?
Or why not?

1
Rogers, Tony, “What Is a Breaking News Story?” ThoughtCo, accessed November 22, 2020,
https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-a-breaking-news-story-2073757.

3
Grade 9-Journalism (English)
Competency: Write illustrative examples of breaking news and flash reports
(SPJ9NEW-IIIa-46).
 _______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

KEEP THIS IN MIND

Good job! You were able to answer the

questions in the previous activity. This time, we are
going to learn more about breaking news and flash
reports and some tips of making them.

BREAKING NEWS AND FLASH REPORTS

Breaking News
Breaking news refers to an important current event that due to its importance,
interrupts the current program and the details of events are reported.2
Breaking news is also known as a special report. It is broadcasted to report
the details of a current event. Most often, breaking news are follow-ups on the
stories already covered up by the channel. Any major advancement in the already
reported story leads to breaking news. In that case, the already gained information
and presently gained information are presented.

Intros to Breaking News

1. This just in …
2. WXYZ has just learned that …
3. According to a reporter at City High …
4. We interrupt this program to…
Flash Reports
A flash report is a small snippet of an important current event that interrupts
the current program.
2
Sangeeta, “Difference between Breaking News and Flash News,” Difference between Breaking
News and Flash News | Breaking News vs Flash News, August 14, 2015,
http://www.differencebetween.info/difference-between-breaking-news-and-flash-
news?fbclid=IwAR2SXNAVh5c7d3Ucy6rPVwSfN_-Ug_RoByhWbkKaN7PHEnY1aQ4jQaj8poY.

4
Grade 9-Journalism (English)
Competency: Write illustrative examples of breaking news and flash reports
(SPJ9NEW-IIIa-46).
 To understand flash reports, let’s consider an example of a natural disaster
which had taken place suddenly. The channels may not have a full detail of the
event, but they want to provide the information of occurrence of this disaster to the
viewers. They simply flash news stating that such an event has taken place. It is brief
and sudden news. It may also contain alerts for the viewers.
Flash news is sudden therefore they are shorter whereas for presenting
breaking news it is beneficial to gain details as much as possible. Breaking news is
designed for creating immense interest for the viewers (for tv) or listeners (for radio),
so that the viewers or listers do not switch to other channels or stations. On the other
hand, flash news is smaller and more sudden. The information has not many details
with it but due to its relevancy the news is regarded as of great importance and it is
flashed. A flashed news, after collection of relevant details is a potential candidate
for breaking news. Information changes in the flash news takes place more rapidly
than in breaking news.3

Writing on Deadline4

In the age of digital journalism, breaking news stories often have immediate
deadlines, with reporters rushing to get stories online.

Here are some tips for writing breaking news on deadline:

 Confirm eyewitness accounts with authorities. They're dramatic and make

compelling copy, but in the chaos that ensues at something like a shooting,
panicked bystanders aren't always reliable. In the Giffords shooting, one
eyewitness described seeing the congresswoman "slumped in the corner with
an apparent gunshot wound to the head. She was bleeding down her face." At
first glance, that sounds like a description of someone who has died. In this
case, fortunately, it wasn't.

 Don't steal from other media. When NPR reported that Giffords had died,
other organizations followed suit. Always do your own first-hand reporting.

3
Sangeeta, “Difference between Breaking News and Flash News,” Difference between Breaking
News and Flash News | Breaking News vs Flash News, August 14, 2015,
http://www.differencebetween.info/difference-between-breaking-news-and-flash-news.
4
Tony Rogers, “What Is a Breaking News Story?,” ThoughtCo, accessed January 4, 2021,
https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-a-breaking-news-story-2073757.

5
Grade 9-Journalism (English)
Competency: Write illustrative examples of breaking news and flash reports
(SPJ9NEW-IIIa-46).
  Never make assumptions. If you see someone who is critically injured it's
easy to assume, they've died. But for reporters, assumptions always
follow Murphy's Law: The one time you assume you know something will
invariably be the one time that assumption is wrong.

 Never speculate. Private citizens have the luxury of speculating about news
events. Journalists don't, because we have a larger responsibility: To report
the truth.

APPLY WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

6
Grade 9-Journalism (English)
Competency: Write illustrative examples of breaking news and flash reports
(SPJ9NEW-IIIa-46).
 Activity 2: BREAKING NEWS SCRIPTWRITING
Directions: Write a breaking news based on the events that’s happening in your
locality. You can watch or listen to the news report for you to have a
basis. Write it on your Journalism 9 notebook.

News Writing Score Sheet based on DepEd MEMORANDUM No.176, s. 20195

Technical 40% Score
 Arranges details of the event in decreasing importance
 Shows the news writer’s ability to organize information
 Uses a lead that is clear and focused on the most important detail
 Avoid the use of words with controversial elements or double-meaning
 Avoid personal slants
 Has clear and unbiased headline
 Uses short and simple words
 Conforms with the principles of unity and coherence
 Observes the rules of grammar and syntax
 Uses transitions properly

Content 50%
• Uses appropriate lead type to get the readers’ attention
• Presents to the readers the most important detail of the event
• Follows logical presentation of the event and emphasizes the most
important or relevant fact (s)
• Follow the correct news writing format/style
Ethics 10%
• Observes ethical and professional standards for journalism (fairness,
relevance, accuracy and balance)
• Cites sources properly and observes copyright laws
Total 100%

REFLECT

WellREFLECT
done! You have shown great
improvement after accomplishing all the tasks in
5
“2020 National Schools Press Conference,” DepEd Memorandum No. 176, s. 2019, accessed
September each lesson. This time you will reflect on your work
20, 2020,
https://www.teacherph.com/2020-national-schools-press-conference-nspc/.
and rate your confidence.

7
Grade 9-Journalism (English)
Competency: Write illustrative examples of breaking news and flash reports
(SPJ9NEW-IIIa-46).
 Activity 3: THE LOOKING GLASS
Directions: Accomplish the table below. Use your Journalism 9 (English) notebook
in completing the activity.

I have learned to… I have to re-learn…

ANSWER KEY

Activity 1
Answers may vary
Activity 2
Answers may vary
Activity 3
Answers may vary

8
Grade 9-Journalism (English)
Competency: Write illustrative examples of breaking news and flash reports
(SPJ9NEW-IIIa-46).