World news is the term used in journalism for stories about events occurring outside of a country’s borders. These may be gathered from a foreign correspondent on assignment or, in more recent times, from news agencies that gather information about global issues using distance communication technologies such as satellite TV or the Internet. It should be noted that there is often a blurring of the line between world news and national news (which covers news about issues that directly affect a nation, such as wars or summits of multilateral organizations).
The earliest incarnation of this genre of news programming was the overnight television news show NBC News Overnight, which first aired in the United States in September 1985. The premise was that the news could not wait until morning and that the viewer needed to be informed about what was going on in the world, particularly in times of crisis or emergency. Over the years, this format has been replicated by many of the major American broadcasting networks and cable news channels.
Unlike the more serious and focused news programs that begin at prime time, World News Now is frequently lighthearted, irreverent and humorous. The program features a mix of general and offbeat news stories, weather forecasts, sports highlights and feature segments. Also featured are repurposed story packages and segments from other ABC News programs, such as Nightline and This Week.
In addition, the World News Now anchors are known to riff on current events and pop culture. For example, the segment “Hunt the Hun” is a parody of the popular game show Hunt or Be Hunted. The program also occasionally airs a video wall of photos and videos from around the world that have been submitted to ABC News by viewers.
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