A big part of my daily job is monitoring “the wire” for breaking news developments. These usually come in the form of Associated Press bulletins, unless the world crumbles to pieces, and then they might present as a FLASH.

There’s a bigger difference than the dictionary definitions might indicate. A nuclear explosion in downtown Chicago would merit an AP flash, but a shooting spree at a mall in Omaha would only merit an AP bulletin. No doubt a complex formula of (gravity X scope / amount of news that day) governs this decision.

Royal weddings, on the other hand, clearly test these rules. The breathless coverage on TV at home and abroad might give you the impression that a flash should be issued. “But for shame!”, cry the hardcore newsmen and newswomen, for the annals of news and entertainment shall never meet on the same dark street corner.

The Associated Press is not in the business of creating wars – just covering them. So a series of bulletins was moved on Prince William’s engagement to commoner Kate Middleton. And the world breathed a collective sigh of relief.