Behind the 'breaking' news

In today's rapidly evolving technological world, where news can spread in an instant, there are those who tirelessly race against time to bring readers the most accurate and timely information. They are the breaking news reporters, quietly piecing together fragments of events, sometimes sacrificing their private moments and personal emotions.

Fast, but accurate.

At midday, under the scorching sun, Le Loi, a reporter for Construction Newspaper based in Long An province, stopped by a cafe to order a black coffee without sugar. Just as he picked up his coffee, a call came in reporting a serious traffic accident between a truck and a motorbike, resulting in four fatalities.

"Breaking news! No time for coffee, let's go! The situation is very serious, we need to go to the scene right away to see what's happening," he said in a hoarse voice. His coffee was still unfinished as he hurried off.

Reporter Le Loi (second from the right) during a field trip.

With nearly 30 years of experience in journalism, Le Loi is very familiar with the irregular pace of work. In particular, having covered traffic safety for many years, he has written extensively on this topic. Loi shared that, for him and many of his colleagues, reporting on breaking news doesn't have the concept of regular office hours or days off.

It's a continuous chain of reflexes: Listen - run - verify - write - send - edit - publish. Everything has to happen in the shortest possible time. He recounted an incident where he was attending his nephew's wedding when he received news of a major fire in a neighboring district. He left the banquet and rushed to the scene. That time, he even arrived before the firefighters, taking out his camera to take pictures, but the smoke, dust, and heat kept hitting his face.

Besides racing against time, those who report breaking news also face invisible constraints such as accuracy, professional ethics, and pressure from public opinion. Loi couldn't hide his frustration: "Sometimes, even after thoroughly verifying information, questioning everyone from the police to ordinary citizens, and writing with utmost caution, some people still express skepticism, saying I'm 'overreacting,' or even using harsh language."

In the age of booming social media, the pressure on reporters specializing in breaking news is even greater. Huynh Du, a reporter for the Ho Chi Minh City Law Newspaper based in Long An, has often had to interrupt meals or ask relatives to pick up his children in order to be on the move and gather breaking news. At any time, day or night, a phone call, a text message, or a video clip on social media can be the order to go: "Go verify immediately!" "Not long ago, a tanker truck carrying oil caught fire at midday. I was taking a break to check on my garden, but upon hearing the news, I rushed to the scene in shorts and a t-shirt, with only my mobile phone as my equipment," Huynh Du recounted.

During his many reporting assignments on breaking news, he also encountered ironic situations. There were times when, before he even arrived at the scene, dozens of videos had already flooded TikTok and Facebook. Upon arrival, he had to both verify the information and debunk the misinformation and fabrications.

On one occasion, he was one of the few reporters to attend a court hearing to cover a case that attracted public attention. He tried his best to meticulously craft his news report, but before the article even aired, misleading and sensationalized "news" had already appeared on social media. What's more, this information spread far and wide, being shared extensively online.

“It feels so helpless! I'm doing what I'm doing based on truth, but the truth is lagging behind all the noise,” Huynh Du shared his feelings. He mused, “Writing a news article isn't simply about punctuation and line breaks. It's a responsibility to the truth, a struggle between speed and caution, and an invisible pressure from the large number of readers watching. I have to write accurately and truthfully; I absolutely never embellish events or information to sensationalize or attract views.”

"Let's not leave the truth behind."

At times, even those involved admit they fear breaking the news. Le Loi said it's not because of the danger, but because of emotional exhaustion. Sometimes there's no time to slow down, to feel the pain. "Even when a tragic event happens, we still have to take photos and videos, then rush to a nearby cafe to write a quick news report to send to the editorial office," Le Loi said.

To maintain balance and avoid emotional numbness, he chose to write down a few thoughts after each incident. He didn't publish them anywhere, only saving them on his computer to keep the feeling of doing his job with his heart.

Reporter Huynh Du (center) at work.

When asked why he remains committed to his profession and reporting breaking news, despite knowing the pressures, Huynh Du smiled a very subtle but profound smile. He replied, "Because there are still stories that need to be told truthfully. Because every time I see my news being shared accurately, being thanked, and being trusted, I feel that this profession is worthwhile." Then he quickly put on his worn-out jacket and grabbed his old camera. Another reliable source arrived: a wall collapse had injured three people. "Let's go again," he said, his voice trembling with worry.

Finally, what news reporters like Le Loi and Huynh Du never hope for are fires, tragic deaths, or catastrophic accidents, but when they do happen, they quickly verify and report the news in the press. Not to create sensational headlines or attract views, but to provide accurate and timely information, help guide public opinion, support investigations, and contribute to protecting justice and the vulnerable.

Breaking news can lead to a rapid change in a decision, a tightening of safety measures, or the widespread dissemination of a heroic act. When the truth is told correctly, journalism can save many things, however small.

That's the life of those who report breaking news: no glamour, no glitz, just responsibility, courage, and the silent scars in their hearts. But it is through this that readers can see the truth, not through sensationalism or distortion, but in its entirety, accuracy, and timeliness. Because somewhere, there are still journalists who persevere, racing against time, just so that the truth is not left behind.

Le Duc

Source: https://baolongan.vn/phia-sau-nhung-tin-nong-a196926.html