News about events that affect the whole country, such as political scandals or natural disasters. National news is typically reported by national television and radio networks. In recent times, cable news channels have become increasingly popular as well.

In the past, news on the national stage was largely a local affair, reported by the newspapers of each city. Eventually, innovations in printing and telecommunications allowed the news to be spread more quickly and widely. This helped to create the first news agencies, such as Reuters (UK), AP (US), and the FT (UK).

The term “breaking news” refers to any item that is considered so important that it warrants an interruption of regular programming. This type of news is usually reported in the form of a headline, but can also be announced with a special banner on a network’s website.

In the early days of television, local news programs aired frequently and were primarily designed to sell commercial advertising space. The earliest such programs included NBC Television Newsreel Theatre (1948) and the Longines Chronoscope (June 1951 – April 1955). Douglas Edwards’ program See It Now on CBS (later retitled Douglas Edwards and the News) became the first national news show to broadcast live from both coasts of the United States, using coaxial cable. This led to the signature greeting, “Good evening everyone, coast to coast.” Following Edwards, a number of anchors have served as the face of network news, including Tom Brokaw on NBC Nightly News and Dan Rather and Peter Jennings on CBS Evening News.