World news (also international news or foreign news) is the news media jargon for stories that pertain to events outside of a country, region or continent. For instance, a story about a political situation in an overseas city, a war that involves countries and people far from the viewer’s home and even summits of multilateral organizations are usually considered part of the field of world news. At the birth of modern journalism, in the 17th century, this was almost all of the news, as registered in the courants of Europe: The Daily Courant (England), the Nieuwe Tijudinger and the Relation (France) or Avisa Relation oder Zeitung (Wolfenbuttel). The bulk of the major news agencies’ services are world-oriented, too.

The reporter who specializes in world news, a journalist who is often referred to as a foreign correspondent, is usually stationed in a foreign city — sometimes a whole country. The correspondent files regular stories to the news editor, typically gathering material from local officials, members of the public and the local press as well as events that he or she directly witnesses. Some foreign correspondents have a full-time contract with a particular news source; they are known as staff reporters. Others are commissioned to cover specific stories and may have no permanent employer — they are known as stringers. Depending on the size of the newspaper, this type of news may be distributed in hard copy or via a wire service (originally telegraph, now the Internet). The wire services are often referred to as news agencies.