In recent years, the amount of coverage that has been devoted to news and current affairs in the media has increased at an extraordinary rate. Examples are regular news stories that appear in local newspapers (news papers); daily newscasts from local television stations; breaking news which often appears on national television or in radio news; and celebrity news that appears in popular media such as television and the print media. Current events have also become a major focus in news due to the heightened interest of the general public in world events and politics. Examples of recent breaking news include the September 11 terrorist attacks in America, the Chinese earthquake, the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy, the birth of a first lady, the landing of Princess Diana and the political scandals in Britain. Major newscasts, such as CNN and BBC World News, regularly feature breaking news stories from around the world and internationally.
In line with the increasing interest in world events, correspondents from various news agencies across the globe are now reporting live from key locations and providing first hand accounts of important events. It has become increasingly important for news agencies to employ reporters and videographers that are based in major US cities such as New York, Washington and Los Angeles to cover these events live. Foreign correspondents are also now appearing in different countries to take advantage of the different language and cultural differences that exist between the different countries. It is becoming increasingly difficult and dangerous for news agencies to be based in the US due to the increased surveillance and security measures in the country. In most countries, it is illegal to conduct newsgathering without prior permission from the government. In other countries, the law makes it difficult for journalists to work outside certain hours, for example during the day.
News photography, however, is not only concerned with documenting important events. News reporting can also have a part to play in disseminating knowledge about current affairs, science and technology, art and culture and news and information. A lot of newspapers and magazines have special sections dedicated to this. The type of news that is usually published in a daily newspaper or magazine is almost always related to the human interest aspect. This makes news reporting an even more interesting profession.