World news is the term used by journalists to refer to international news. It covers global events such as wars, international summits and natural disasters that affect many countries simultaneously. It is the news media’s jargon for foreign journalism (although a war story is also national news for the media of belligerent countries).
A journalist who specialises in this field of reporting is called a “correspondent” and will normally be stationed abroad full-time. They will file regularly to their news editor, gathering material from local officials and members of the public as well as from events they witness themselves. They will often remain in touch with other correspondents and other journalists on the ground to identify strategic sources in government, among diplomats and the military, who could provide useful information.
The News of the World phone hacking scandal dominated headlines in British newspapers in late 2011 and early 2012. It emerged that employees of Rupert Murdoch’s newspaper empire had hacked phones belonging to celebrities, politicians and members of the royal family, including the murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler and relatives of victims of the 7 July London bombings. The scandal led to several resignations, including those of Murdoch’s son James as News International executive chairman and the chairman of BSkyB, and former News of the World editor Andy Coulson.
In July 2011, the British prime minister David Cameron announced that a public inquiry would be launched into allegations of phone hacking and police bribery by the News of the World newspaper and its journalists. The inquiry, named the Leveson Inquiry, will examine the culture and ethics of the press in Britain.