National news focuses on high-profile events that impact citizens on a nation-wide basis. This includes politics, major disasters and other issues that affect a broad audience. It is often contrasted with local news which covers community events, crime reports and other topics specific to a town or city.
People who consume news can choose from many different formats, including local TV and radio stations, newspapers and streaming services. Regardless of how they access the information, however, there are some common threads in how stories are reported.
For example, local journalists live and work in the communities they cover. They build relationships and inside sources and are able to present the story from a trusted, credible perspective. This can help build trust in the media.
By contrast, a reporter who specializes in international news (or a related field like world news) travels to other cities or countries to report on national or global news. Often, this requires them to stay in a foreign country for extended periods of time and is done as part of their job. The work is often highly technical and involves a great deal of research. It is also sometimes dangerous and requires specialized training in order to ensure safety. Typically, these reporters are called correspondents and are often accompanied by staff members or interns who assist them with their research.