Smart broadcasters have a working plan to follow when tragedy strikes, but many don’t make it beyond switching into “news mode.” When unexpected events occur, it’s important to know what role information has for the show, station, and brand. Most of the audience already knows the facts, so updates on the story are unnecessary unless breaking news coverage is an essential aspect of the station brand. If it is, the primary emphasis should be on covering the story from as many angles as possible, with less focus on opinion and emotion. If not, don’t try to become an information source. This, of course, raises the question of how much news you should use.
Dealing With Tragedy: How Much News Should You Use?
