World news is the term used in journalism to describe news that pertains to a global subject. This type of news might involve war, politics, education, religion, culture, or economics among other subjects. The field of world news is considered to be a specialty of the news media, and it often requires different skillsets than reporting on local or national issues.

It has been possible for people to communicate new information since ancient times, and the emergence of technology has greatly increased the speed at which this information can spread. News of major events, such as wars or natural disasters, can now be broadcast instantaneously over radio and television, as well as through the internet.

The world has become a much smaller place due to the advances in communication technologies, and this is also true of the world of news. The boundaries between for-profit, non-profit and public news sources have blurred, and many of these organizations cooperate on a wide range of projects. The line between professionals and amateurs has also become less distinct, and a number of “pro-am” relationships have emerged.

In the past, world news was a separate branch of the press that dealt with news from abroad sent by foreign correspondents and agencies or, more recently, information gathered through long-distance communications systems such as satellite TV and the Internet. In the United States, the distinction between world and domestic news is sometimes blurred as international events that directly affect the nation’s government or institutions are reported on by national news outlets.