National news is information about events in a country or region, or the country’s government. It can include information about a major disaster or about political leaders and parties, but is typically focused on the daily lives of people in the country.
Historically, newspapers were the main source of national news. Advances in printing and telecommunications allowed newspapers to be published outside the cities of Europe and the United States, and national newspapers became profitable powerhouses of advocacy, muckraking, and sensationalism. In the 20th century, technological change again altered the role of media as radio, television, and the internet took on greater prominence in the dissemination of national news.
In the United States, local news often consists of regional versions of national news broadcasts. These can be stand-alone newscasts, or a short segment that airs attached to the national morning or evening news. The branding, studio designs and graphics of a regional newscast can differ from the national network it is affiliated with although many affiliates make some on-air reference to the networks they are associated with.
National news outlets tend to have more resources than local news outlets, which may allow them to cover more substantial stories and can sometimes result in a lack of coverage on important community issues such as crime or unemployment. This can leave residents of a city or neighborhood less aware of important national issues and can lead to decreased civic engagement in the community.