News is information about current events, which may be transmitted through various channels, including word of mouth, printing, postal systems, broadcasting and electronic communication. The development of technologies such as telecommunications and faster printing presses has made it easier to spread information quickly. Throughout history, governments have tried to control the dissemination of news, by shutting down newspapers or radio and television stations, although the Internet has proven a formidable obstacle to this effort, as it is difficult to censor and widely accessible.
National newspapers have a broader reach than local publications, and can impact public opinion on a larger scale. They cover significant political issues, and cultural trends that can affect many different regions of a country, while local newspapers focus on community-specific events.
The news industry has been undergoing significant changes as readers have shifted to online sources, and advertising revenue has declined for print-based media. This has led to a number of new business models, including subscriptions and membership programs. The line between professional and amateur journalists has also blurred.
Traditionally, news has been gathered by a variety of methods, including full-time foreign correspondents (who work for a single newspaper or magazine) and special envoys sent on assignment abroad. More recently, news agencies have been established that collect and distribute information to many different outlets (papers, magazines, broadcasters, etc.). In some cases, these agencies are owned by large media conglomerates, and in others they are funded independently from the outlets that publish their content.