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Read All About It: A History of Breaking News at The Times

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Summary

The article discusses the history of breaking news at The New York Times. It highlights how the newspaper has always sought to be first to deliver the news, whether it be natural disasters, cultural moments, or developments on the war in Ukraine. The article discusses some of the ways The Times has gathered information or published breaking news since the newspaper was founded in 1851, including using wires from the sea, sharp instincts, news on the move, and the final frontier. It also discusses how the Live blog is the newspaper's chief breaking news tool today, and how the process involves fervent reporting and a 24-hour operation of handoffs around the world to keep coverage humming.

Q&As

How has The New York Times delivered breaking news throughout its history?
The New York Times has delivered breaking news in a variety of ways throughout its history, including using telegraph wires, electric bulletin boards, and live blogs.

How did The Times break the news of the Titanic sinking?
The Times broke the news of the Titanic sinking by publishing a story based on information from telegraph wires.

What was the first story to run on the Times' new "zipper" electric bulletin board?
The first story to run on the Times' new "zipper" electric bulletin board was the presidential election results between Al Smith and Herbert Hoover.

How did The Times cover the Apollo 11 moon landing?
The Times covered the Apollo 11 moon landing by setting up an audio line direct from Mission Control in Houston and writing fresh headlines for the next two editions.

What is The Times' current approach to breaking news coverage?
The Times' current approach to breaking news coverage is a 24-hour operation of handoffs around the world to keep coverage humming.

AI Comments

👍 The Times has always sought fresh ways to be first to deliver the news.

👎 The Times has a history of breaking news stories.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about how The New York Times has been delivering breaking news since it was founded in 1851.

Friend: That's interesting. I didn't know that The New York Times has been around that long.

Me: Yeah, it's been around for a while. The article talks about how the Times has always sought fresh ways to be first to deliver the news.

Friend: That makes sense. In today's world, it's all about being first.

Me: Yeah, that's true. But being first isn't always easy. The article talks about how the Times has to be constantly inventing and experimenting in order to stay ahead of the competition.

Friend: That's definitely true. With the Internet, there are so many sources of information that it can be hard to keep up.

Me: Yeah, that's true. But I think that The New York Times does a good job of staying on top of things.

Action items

Check The New York Times for breaking news alerts.
Follow The New York Times on social media for updates on breaking news stories.
Visit The New York Times website for comprehensive coverage of breaking news stories.

Technical terms

Breaking news: News that is happening right now or has just happened that is of great importance.
Live blog: A blog that is updated in real time, providing new information as it becomes available.
Wire: A system of sending messages using telegraph or telephone.
Cable: A system of sending messages using a submarine cable.
Telegraph: A system of sending messages using Morse code.
Teletype: A system of sending messages using a typewriter.
Conveyor belt: A system of moving objects on a belt.