International news is a news genre that has garnered substantial scholarly and professional attention. It is distinct from domestic or regional news because it deals with events that take place in a foreign country, as reported by an overseas correspondent. It also refers to news about global issues, including but not limited to war and peace, human rights, the environment, and interconnectedness.
International journalism requires a special set of skills that distinguish it from other types of journalistic work. Moreover, it involves costs that are often higher than those associated with other genres of journalism. These include securing travel to foreign countries, recruiting and training specialized reporters or journalists in the field, and providing them with appropriate equipment.
In addition to these costs, research shows that the audience for international news is typically smaller than that for domestic news. This can make it more difficult for journalistic outlets to devote sufficient resources to the genre.
A variety of scholars have identified a number of determinants that influence the extent to which an event or issue is covered as international. For example, research suggests that the newsworthiness of a development depends on its conflict (e.g., arguments and fights) or its magnitude.
Further, analysis of international news content has found that events in proximate/geographically close foreign countries are more likely to receive greater coverage than those occurring in distant or non-proximate foreign countries. This is a result of the fact that journalists often believe that audiences are most interested in stories that are relevant to their own lives and that they can best understand foreign developments by placing them in a local context.
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