World news is a specialization for journalists in almost every country. It includes news and analysis of major events happening around the world. This is done through different media. The Internet has also begun to play a similar role in the 21st century.
In the 17th century, newspapers were printed in many countries. They were designed to reach a wide audience, including merchants and bankers. These publications were then sent by telegraph or wire service to the newsroom.
During the 20th century, television became an important medium for transmitting news. Radio was also a significant means of getting news.
Today, the line between professional and amateur journalism has blurred, as many news organizations have begun performing their own news gathering on social media platforms. For example, Al Jazeera, a news network owned by the Qatar government, reaches millions of viewers worldwide.
In the US, the boundaries between national news and world news have been blurred, and news can often be divided into different subsets. For instance, wars that the United States is involved in are considered national news. Likewise, summits of multilateral organizations that the United States is a member of are considered national news.
In the UK, a variety of government agencies impose constraints on broadcasters to avoid bias. Newspapers and radio stations are expected to be neutral. However, this is not always the case.
Many single-party governments have operated state-run news organizations. These entities may present government views on particular subjects.