Craig, I just saw your tweet linking to your new Tumblr — "What People Consider Breaking News" — and while this is obviously a tongue-in-cheek project, I thought it merited asking... do you genuinely think the definition of Breaking News is changing or broadening? Why?

To other journalists, news-hounds, or casual observers: Please use the "Ask to join" button up top. I'd love to hear your thoughts, too.

Yes, definitely. I think the term's become so ubiquitous that it's lost meaning. Now it seems to signify anything "important" or "worth knowing about," I suppose, whereas at one time it may have meant "this just happened."

The term is just about everywhere and people want to declare their own breaking news. Things that matter to them. I've monitored the term "breaking news" on Twitter for a long time now, for years, and I've definitely seen the type of tweets cited in the Tumblr increase over time. It was time to give them a Tumblr.

We try to use the phrase very sparingly - lives in danger (wildfires, etc); major collisions and traffic incidents that affect lots of people or a large community. Very, very rarely use it for anything political/legislative.

Those seem to be good use cases, KRTV! Glad to hear you're careful about using the phrase.

If you break news on Branch, is it a Breaking Branch?

Sorry, just had to say it.