World news or international news is a branch of journalism that deals with news that is sent from one country to another. It is a term that refers to news of events, political developments and cultural issues occurring outside the boundaries of a nation.
This branch of journalism includes coverage of global and international politics, business, sports, the arts and more. It may include information that is collected or gathered from other countries through distance communication technologies such as the telephone, satellite TV and the Internet.
It also includes reporting about a country that is in war or a dispute with other nations. Traditionally, this has meant war coverage from the point of view of journalists in countries involved in the conflict.
Foreign correspondents (or international journalists) are full-time reporters employed by a news organization who report regularly from a location abroad, covering events occurring in a particular region or a single country. They file stories to a news editor and generally stay in close contact with local officials, members of the community and local media.
There are two main types of foreign correspondents: those who work for a single news organization and those who have no permanent contract with media outlets and are called stringers. The former are usually stationed in the capital city of a country and cover all events there, while the latter are usually assigned a specific area to report on.
World news is important for determining the direction of an economy and the status of political and social systems in different countries, particularly those that are engaged in war or are in conflict with other nations. It also provides insight into the way different countries view the world and the way in which people in different regions understand and perceive one another.