World news (also known as international news) is the term used by the press to describe any news that takes place outside of a country. It can also be considered the broader category of global news, and can include topics like politics, wars, and natural disasters.
A reporter who specializes in world news is called a foreign correspondent. These reporters usually have a job at a newspaper or broadcasting company and are sent abroad to report on their assigned topic. They typically have a variety of resources available to them, including local officials and members of the community. They may also be able to use contacts they have made through other journalists on the ground.
In the early days of modern journalism, most news was foreign. This is reflected in the courants of 17th-century Europe, and later in the first newspapers of the 19th century. The advent of telecommunications such as the telegraph allowed for more rapid dissemination of information. The first news agencies were founded to prepare and distribute this information on a mass scale. These organizations would provide the bulk of world news to their subscriber newspapers and radio and television stations. The major news agencies today, such as Reuters, AP and AFP, still provide the majority of their information as world news. They often sell this information to individuals, corporations and governments, as well.