World news or international or even foreign coverage is the jargon for news that comes from outside of one’s own country, often from other parts of the globe. For journalism, it is a branch of reporting that includes sending correspondents abroad and reporting from remote locations by means of satellite, phone and the Internet.

A few sub-branches of world news:

The main responsibilities of a foreign correspondent are to report on events and developments in the nation or countries they cover, including but not limited to governmental policies, military actions and other facets of everyday life that may affect the rest of the world, and to report on international affairs. They may work for an international news agency, a newspaper or other media organization or simply for themselves as freelancers.

A good foreign correspondent will scour the globe and be familiar with foreign languages, while at the same time maintaining an extensive network of local contacts. They will also know how to find the most important stories of the day and provide their colleagues with key information.

In the realm of world news, the best known field is war journalism. Other notable sub-branches include sports, travel and arts.

Among the more interesting aspects of world news is its multi-disciplinary nature. It requires the skills of multiple reporters with a variety of backgrounds and experiences to produce credible, insightful and well-rounded reports on any given subject.

The field is not without its pitfalls and mishaps, as well. While it is not impossible to be a successful foreign correspondent, the rewards can be severely compromised by poor preparation or a lack of relevant training. A good foreign correspondent will be able to spot a story and report it with authority, and have the patience to learn from their mistakes.