Humanitarian News and USAID at Risk

Hundreds of millions of people live with the risk and impact of humanitarian crises—from armed conflict, natural disasters and major disease outbreaks. The United States is a key global donor of life-saving relief. Yet the recent executive order that paused U.S. foreign aid and moved USAID under the Department of State has placed those services at risk.

This will have short- and long-term consequences for crisis-affected communities. But it could also be a window to reimagine aid as a more inclusive and locally grounded endeavor, less dominated by legacy structures and more accountable to affected populations.

Humanitarian news combines reporting from the heart of conflict and disasters with advocacy journalism that pushes for changes in response. The field has a long history of raising awareness, funds and advocacy around critical issues in the world. However, a large research literature shows that the quantity of coverage is not strongly correlated with the severity or number of people affected by a crisis. Instead, the quantity of coverage is driven by a crisis’s geopolitical significance and its cultural proximity to an audience. This can prevent an empathetic encounter between the public and those affected by distant suffering.

As the humanitarian field grapples with the pause and termination of funding, local women-led and women’s rights organizations will be among the hardest hit. They are critical to reaching marginalized populations and delivering life-saving assistance. But they are often underfunded and dependent on government donors that have withdrawn support. When they are shut down or forced to scale back, the entire humanitarian system loses an essential and invaluable resource.

Top 5 News Podcasts

News podcasts offer a deep, intimate exploration of topics that are overlooked in the mainstream media. By creating a personal connection between host and listener, they cultivate a more engaged audience who understands complex issues from multiple angles. This, in turn, enriches the narrative style of news reporting.

While news podcasts make up a small proportion of overall podcast consumption in most markets, their impact is significant. Across our interviewees in the US, UK, and Norway, we found that regular news podcast listeners are highly interested in news (71% of them say they are extremely or very interested in news, compared to 45% of non-podcast listeners). They also have a high willingness to pay for news-related podcasts (46% in the US and 39% in the UK).

As the world’s most popular podcast, Serial offers a no-holds-barred discussion on current political and social issues from a liberal standpoint. The show’s candid discussions and interviews with politicians, celebrities, and other influencers appeal to a broad audience looking for an inside look into the American government and culture.

Produced by The New York Times, Up First delivers a concise, informative recap of the day’s top three news stories in an easy-to-understand format. The podcast’s expert analysis and storytelling approach makes it a key source of world news for many busy commuters.

Business Deals News

The Deal provides comprehensive news, analysis and commentary on the latest mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. It covers corporate transactions, dealmakers and their advisers to help you stay ahead of the trends that are transforming the business landscape.

Despite a volatile and uncertain environment, deals continue to happen. In the first half of 2025, deal volumes declined 12%, but values rose 26%, led by a rise in deals valued at more than $1 billion. In fact, some sectors have seen an increase in both deal volumes and value, including aerospace and defence, chemicals, asset and wealth management and power and utilities. Other sectors, like pharmaceuticals, automotive and industrials have seen declines on both fronts.

For example, mining giant BHP Billiton closed an agreement to acquire OZ Minerals, which gives it access to the highly sought-after copper and gold assets in Brazil. Meanwhile, manufacturing conglomerate Honeywell paid for Carrier Global, a maker of heating, ventilation and air conditioning products, to strengthen its portfolio of security products. And Home Depot purchased SRS Distribution, which helps it expand its reach into the residential construction industry.

As companies look to build on their strengths and adapt to the new competitive dynamics, they are taking a more nuanced view of geography and looking beyond China in search of growth. But uncertainty still lingers, and it is easy to hit pause or retreat. Dealmakers can’t stop the clock, but they need to be bold, find their path forward and stick to it.

What Is Entertainment News?

Entertainment news is a specialized form of journalism that reports on the world of movies, television, music, and celebrity culture. It can significantly shape the public perception of celebrities and cultural trends by highlighting their accomplishments, exposing flaws, and offering behind-the-scenes insight. It is a field that requires journalists to balance glamorous reporting with sensitive coverage that respects the privacy of individuals involved.

As the media industry has changed with technology, the line between news and entertainment has blurred. This phenomenon has been referred to as infotainment, or the merger of information and entertainment in television programming. It is reflected in the choice of news stories and their presentation, such as a greater emphasis on crime stories, human-interest pieces, or entertainment value added through satire or sensationalism.

While some critics have argued that soft news and infotainment have undermined the credibility of traditional news organizations, others have suggested that media companies are trying to keep up with consumer demand by providing content that is entertaining and appealing. For example, television programs focusing on popular music, such as American Idol and The Voice, have increased the visibility of some musical artists while also appealing to viewers who may not otherwise watch traditional news programs. Additionally, visually stimulating print and online video game magazines have helped to expand the reach of the video game industry and attract a new audience. The growth of these outlets has challenged traditional news organizations to determine how best to address this demand while maintaining their reputation for objectivity.

The Importance of Local News

Local news is the reporting of events, issues and activities that directly impact a defined local community or geographic area. It plays a significant role in fostering community identity by covering stories that resonate with residents, reflecting their values, culture and concerns. By informing citizens about government decisions, public services and local events, it encourages civic participation and engagement.

While national and state-level events may be covered by local news outlets, it’s often the community level coverage that has the greatest impact. Take, for example, the recent battle over textbooks in Seminole County schools in Florida. While there was plenty of media coverage on the broader issue, it was The Blueprint – Hagerty High School’s student newspaper – that stepped in to cover the story and give local students a hands-on education in journalism.

A large number of Americans report following local news at least sometimes, with the majority saying they follow news about weather, crime and government. However, some communities have been left without any local news at all, a situation known as being in a “news desert.”

Local news is typically broadcast on television by commercial broadcasting channels (some of which are network affiliates). It can be either a standalone local newscast that runs for at least a half-hour or short segments that air attached to national morning newscasts. For instance, Norway’s national public broadcaster NRK TV shows a 13-minute local news program called NRK Distriktsnyheter every weekday evening on channel 3, and it also airs a shortened version of the same show as an opt-out during a simulcast of the nation-wide morning news program Dagsrevyen on channel 2. Local news is also shown on local cable channels.

Video News Channels

Online news video is becoming a central part of many publishers’ content strategy. A recent survey of senior digital leaders found that 79% planned to invest more in the format. However, publishers remain cautious due to the significant investment needed and the challenge of monetising video content.

Video news channels take a different approach to online news coverage, creating short videos designed to work on social media and mobile devices where sound is usually off. They use a mix of automation and human curation and often feature graphics and the publisher’s logo. Many are experimenting with innovative storytelling techniques and new visual formats to attract audiences.

For example, Tomo uses Taiwanese animators to create crude GCI reenactments of stories that they can’t actually capture on camera – an approach they call “News-Infotainment.” Unlike traditional news broadcasters, independent YouTube news channels are less likely to cite news organizations when making their videos. Instead they were more likely to cite other sources like experts, social media posts and polls.

Compared to the most viewed news videos in December 2019, those of independent channels were twice as likely to have a negative tone toward their main subject. Videos about President Trump were the most popular topics, followed by domestic policy issues and criticism of corporations like big tech. Meanwhile, videos about Democratic politicians and non-political public figures were less common.

What Is Political News?

Political news refers to the information published in newspapers, radio and television programs that pertain to politics, public affairs and political science. It is a sub-genre of journalism that explores the political sphere and how it relates to the social and economic development of societies.

The media environment in which people consume political news is constantly changing. Gone are the days when most political information was confined to network TV and major national newspapers. Now, 24-hour cable news channels and a myriad of online sources compete for political attention. In addition, online news consumers can customize their news sourcing with RSS feeds and aggregators, post their own political content on personal websites or social networking sites and watch video news clips at any time of day.

Young adults and those with relatively high levels of income and education are more likely than others to go online for political and election news. Moreover, they are more intense internet users and are more likely to access news on their mobile devices than is the case with the general population.

As a result, more Americans than ever rely on the internet for their political news. They are more likely to visit portal news services, personal blogs and online social networking sites to sift through the long tail of political commentary. They are also more likely to use tools to search for and filter political news – using a variety of methods such as keywords, topical categories and filters – and more likely to share the information they find online with others.

Live News Feed

Stream the news that matters most to you with Hulu + Live TV. Watch national networks like CNN, Fox News and MSNBC and local coverage from ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC. Plus, get the latest breaking stories as they happen — and never miss your favorite shows again with unlimited DVR storage.

A live news feed is a video stream of television broadcasts by various networks and TV news channels, in many countries worldwide. These streams may be provided online, by the channels themselves, or through smart televisions that have integrated streaming media apps, internet television services (e.g. YouTube) or subscription video on demand websites such as e.g. Hulu, or digital media players such as the Roku.

For twenty-four-hour news channels, the content of their live news streams, and that of their broadcast television services, may be identical; however for some news channels, especially those owned by conventional commercial networks, the stream may only carry world news, and may be separate from the channel’s regular broadcast schedule. Some major international news outlets such as Al Jazeera have livestreams available on their own websites, and at their YouTube channels.

How to Use the Media Spotlight to Highlight Your Members

The media spotlight shines on an individual or organization to draw attention and build credibility. It can be used to showcase your members, boost recruitment and retention and promote social media engagement. It is a powerful tool that is best executed by ensuring your members are prepared for the glare of the media and have a compelling story to tell.

A successful media spotlight article must be interesting and relevant, as well as timely. A good way to approach this is to take a human interest angle, which can transform a niche or mundane piece into something that has broader appeal. For example, a policy update on a new city initiative might catch the eye of journalists interested in education or policy, but adding a story about a student who overcame great adversity and was able to use their experience to mentor others could widen the reach of your story.

Journalists are busy, overworked and usually under-supported, which means that your pitch is competing against a lot of other information for their attention. A compelling subject line is key for getting your media spotlight pitch noticed in a journalist’s overcrowded inbox, as it’s often the only way to ensure that they’ll open and read your email.

With a media database like Prowly, you can stay connected to journalists who cover your research topic through a variety of filters including industry, location and more. You can also use AI keyword suggestions to expand your search possibilities and uncover more opportunities for coverage.

Current Events for History, Government, and Civics Classrooms

Current events provide scholars with ample material for study. They might explore the rise of right populism and ethnic nationalism, a nightmarish post-fact political era, or the long-term impact of surveillance and robots on the economy and employment. Or they might analyze whether Trump will break through the sclerosis of Washington elites and usher in economic invigoration, international stability, or broader social inclusion.

Each week, the Bill of Rights Institute searches for contemporary news articles that explore themes used in U.S. History, Government, and Civics classrooms. We then identify resources that connect those articles to the curriculum.

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