When I was younger, the only time I recall hearing the phrase “BREAKING NEWS” was for something really major. The president has just been shot or the Challanger has blown up, war has broken out somewhere….something really important for us, as a nation, to know about.

We’ve been watching a cable news channels this week and I have noticed that they use that phrase every time they want to announce something. They don’t seem to know the difference between Breaking News, Breaking Gossip and just plain News.

So, News People, listen up!!!!

BREAKING NEWS: Blagojevich gets caught trying to sell senate seat.

JUST PLAIN NEWS: Blagojevich has been under surveilence for years.

BREAKING NEWS:  John Travolta’s son dies.

BREAKING GOSSIP:  The Travolta family takes son’s remains back to Florida

BREAKING NEWS:  Obama elected president

BREAKING GOSSIP: Obama’s children attend first day of school.

BREAKING NEWS: Roland Burris appointed to senate seat by Blagojevich

JUST PLAIN NEWS: Roland Burris shows up to take his senate seat

If there isn’t a clear difference between these types of news, how in the world are we supposd to know when they are important enough to pay attention to?