news agency
B2Formal, journalistic, academic, business
Definition
Meaning
An organization that gathers, writes, and distributes news reports to newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and online media.
An institution or company specializing in collecting and disseminating news and information from various sources to subscribing clients in the media industry.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Refers to the organizational entity, not the physical building. Often implies a large-scale, professional operation with correspondents in multiple locations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Term is identical in both varieties. The concept and operational models are the same.
Connotations
Neutral professional term in both regions. Associated with credibility, speed, and wide geographical coverage.
Frequency
Equally common in both UK and US English, particularly in media, political, and business contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The news agency reported that...According to the news agency...A news agency based in...Journalists from the news agency...Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No direct idioms, but appears in phrases like 'according to news agency reports'”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Discussed in media industry analysis, mergers, and subscription services.
Academic
Used in media studies, journalism, political science, and communications research.
Everyday
Appears in news articles and discussions about where news originates.
Technical
Specific in journalism for describing sources of syndicated content.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The story was news-agency sourced.
- They news-agency the reports globally.
American English
- The report was news-agency distributed.
- They operate to news-agency the updates.
adverb
British English
- The information arrived news-agency quickly.
- It was distributed news-agency widely.
American English
- The report came news-agency fast.
- It was sent news-agency nationwide.
adjective
British English
- It was a news-agency report.
- She works in a news-agency environment.
American English
- It was a news-agency story.
- He has a news-agency background.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I read the story from a news agency.
- A news agency tells us the news.
- Reuters is a famous international news agency.
- Many newspapers buy articles from news agencies.
- The journalist cited a report from a major news agency based in London.
- News agencies play a crucial role in providing impartial information to media outlets worldwide.
- Amid the political crisis, several news agencies were denied access to government briefings, raising concerns about press freedom.
- The merger of the two leading news agencies is expected to reshape the global media landscape.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an 'agency' as a company that does a specific job. A NEWS agency's job is to gather and sell NEWS.
Conceptual Metaphor
A NEWS AGENCY is a FACTORY producing information commodities.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'агентство новостей' (less common). The standard term is 'информационное агентство' or 'новостное агентство'.
- Do not confuse with 'newsroom' (редакция).
Common Mistakes
- Using plural incorrectly: 'news agencies' (correct) not 'news agency's' for plural.
- Confusing with 'newsagent' (a shop selling newspapers).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a news agency?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A newspaper publishes finished news products for the public. A news agency gathers raw news and sells it to newspapers, TV stations, and other media.
Examples include Reuters (UK), Associated Press (AP - US), Agence France-Presse (AFP - France), and TASS (Russia).
Typically, their core business is supplying content to other media. However, some large agencies like Reuters also have direct consumer-facing news websites and television services.
They are largely synonymous. 'Press agency' is a slightly older term, while 'news agency' is more comprehensive, covering audio-visual and digital news, not just print ('press').
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