World news is a broad category of journalism that covers events in countries outside of a given region. Typically, world news is reported by a journalist employed by a major international news organization, but it can also be done by freelance reporters and journalists who work for newspapers, television networks and radio stations. It is sometimes called foreign or international news. World news is one of the oldest subfields of journalism, dating back to the courants of 17th-century Europe and later accelerated by innovations in telecommunications that allowed newspapers to be distributed globally.
Among the most notable organizations reporting world news today are CNN, BBC, Reuters and AP. The New York Times and the Washington Post are other prominent world news outlets. Several universities offer journalism degrees with a focus on international studies.
In addition to the normal news segments, WNN occasionally features a variety of off-beat, non-news items that have a lighthearted or humorous tone. These include the “World News Polka” (usually played by comedian Barry Mitchell on the accordion) and a segment where a video wall shows a street in London with a counter at the bottom that counts the number of double-decker buses that pass by.
World News Now is aired live Monday through Friday mornings from 2:00 to 3:00 am Eastern Time on ABC and ABC affiliates around the country. The show is produced by a team that also produces Good Morning America First Look, which airs live from 8:00 to 9:00 am on the same network and is tape delayed for many ABC stations.