World news is the term used in the news media for global events or stories. These stories are either sent in by foreign correspondents or, more recently, may be reported from abroad by news agencies and other organizations that gather information using distance communication technologies (originally telegraph and later television and telephone). This type of journalism is known as international news, or more specifically, foreign coverage.
WNN has also been a training ground for new anchors, with many of the original program’s presenters going on to higher-profile jobs with ABC News or local affiliates. The show has also been a testing ground for the use of interactive internet-based segments, with WNN being one of the first to introduce viewers’ comments via email to the studio.
Other original segments on the show included Insomniac Theater, a movie review segment where staffers would ad-lib their reviews of current releases; Insomniac Kitchen, in which the anchors visited a local New York City restaurant to sample late-night snacks; and GizWiz, in which Dick DeBartolo reviewed and demonstrated the latest gadgets and technology. The program was also known for its use of the “World News Polka” at the end of each broadcast.
WNN is available on a variety of cable and satellite television providers. However, some stations do not carry the show at all. For example, KTWO in Casper, Wyoming and WVII in Bangor, Maine previously preempted the program to air a simulcast of the home shopping channel Jewelry Television. KTWO and WVII have since added World News Now to their lineups as the Jewelry Television simulcast was dropped.