The term “world news” is not usually regarded as a specialization by journalists, though nearly every country in the world has some kind of world news coverage. Nonetheless, in the United States, the distinction between national and world news is blurred. What counts as “national news” in the United States is news about the national government and institutions. Consequently, events such as wars and summits of international organizations that the United States is a member of are considered national news.
Foreign correspondents
If you think Washington, D.C., is an exciting place to be, wait until you see the stories that come out of places like Sweden and Singapore. These reporters work to make the world more informed and to prevent misinformation from spreading. Their job is more than reporting the news; they also fight misinformation by providing reliable sources and assessing sources. They try to make sense of the chaos in the world and have the potential to make a difference.
News agencies
The ‘big four’ Western news agencies control most of the news coverage in the developing world. AP, Reuters, UPI, and AFP each send about 90,000 words a day to Asia. These agencies also receive approximately 19,000 words a day from correspondents. However, most of this information is largely skewed and has no impact on public opinion. They are more likely to focus on the negative aspects of a situation than on the positive.
Associated Press
AP began in 1900 by merging regional organizations. It soon faced an antimonopoly suit by Chicago Inter Ocean, which forced it to relocate to New York and use stricter control over its membership. Marshall Field III, who had founded the Chicago Sun, fought to keep AP from providing his paper with news. AP was later sued under federal antitrust laws. Despite the controversy, the AP still continues to produce news for the world.
Reuters
Reuters’s commitment to unbiased, fact-based reporting is apparent in its approach to conflict. While it respects the right of staff to participate in elections, referendums, and political campaigns, the company also expects journalists to exercise sensitivity towards the risk of bias. A good example of this is the use of the word “terrorist” in reporting the deaths of civilians. Although journalists should exercise common sense when reporting on conflicts and controversies, Reuters does expect journalists to use ethical and unbiased reporting principles in all their reporting.
Agence France-Presse
AFP’s independence and neutrality have been questioned by critics over the years, primarily because of the strong ties between the company and the French government. In fact, the company has had three successive heads of state, each nominated by the government’s minister of foreign affairs or finance. In 2010, the European Commission accused the AFP of having a conflict of interest by receiving 40 percent of its turnover in subscription fees from State bodies. This constituted an illegal, disguised financial subsidy.