Online news services aggregate a wide range of stories from global sources and allow for an easy comparison of perspectives. This enables a more comprehensive understanding of complex issues and broader awareness of what is going on around the world.
While many people still get their news through traditional channels such as television and newspapers, the vast majority of Americans visit at least one online news service in a given month. The largest of these include Google News (which showcases stories from thousands of third-party sources), CBS News, NBC News, Buzzfeed, and the New York Times. Some smaller online news services focus on a specific topic, such as politics, sports, or science. Others, such as AP, operate as a news agency that provides text, video, photos, and data to thousands of other media outlets, government agencies, schools, finance platforms, and tech companies.
Unlike newspaper editions, which can only be read at a fixed time and location, online news services make it easy to access articles at any point in the day. Many incorporate audio content and podcasting, transforming when and how people stay informed by making it possible to consume news while commuting, exercising, or performing other activities.
Some online news outlets have adopted a hybrid model of free general content and subscription-based premium articles. These sites encourage registration by offering a small number of general news stories in exchange for logging in, and use the opportunity to track logged-in reader behaviour to guide them towards ongoing subscriptions.