Letter to the Editor: "Breaking News"

Here's another letter to the editor that I recently published. It's about the abuse of "breaking news" and its impact on eroding news.

"The media’s ability to command respect continues to dwindle for many different reasons. But one that the media must own up to is their editorial choices; media outlets must learn to be less complicit in overinflating, distracting and unnecessary news. Nowhere is this more evident than in the flagrant use of “breaking news.” The labeling of the mundane as “breaking news” continues to erode our faith in journalism. "

For the rest of the letter, feel free to go onto the Salem News website.

For a sense of what those "Breaking News" headlines were, here's the ones that I was referring to:

• Theriault steps down as Danvers football coach after three seasons
• Registry of Motor Vehicles eyeing Route 1 site
• Murder suspect Doughty arraigned today on carjacking charges
• Doughty pleads not guilty in Peabody killings
• Peabody crews battle house fire on Washington Street
• Doughty due in Mass. court Tuesday
• Peabody murder suspect caught in South Carolina
• DA: Suspect in Peabody killings involved in alleged Middleton carjacking
• Injury will force Flanagan to miss this year's Boston Marathon
• DA identifies second suspect in Peabody double murder
• One in custody for double murder in Peabody
• 2 P.M. UPDATE: Police on scene of suspected multiple homicide in Peabody

What do you think about "breaking news"?  What should be it's parameters?

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