The news agencies, also known as wire services, are among the most powerful and trusted names in news business. Some of them like Reuters have been in existence since the nineteenth century. However, few are aware of their reach or existence. They do not own physical properties such as newspapers or television channels. But they generate news for all forms of media. Their subscribers include newspapers, magazines, radio stations, television networks and now news sites.

1. News Agencies/Wire
Services

2. Definition
• A news agency gathers news reports and sells them to news organizations,
such as newspapers, magazines, radio stations, television networks and
websites.
• It is also known as a wire service or newswire.

3. Features of news service
•1.
• Neutral
• It should not only be impartial
but be seen to be impartial

4. Features of news service
•2. • Attribute information to
spokesman/named sources.
• Exercise great care when
attributing information to
unnamed sources.

5. Features of news service
•3.
• Steer clear of
doubt/ambiguity

6. Features of news service
•4.
• Ensure accuracy

7. Features of news service
• 5. • Ensure timeliness
• Treat every minute as a deadline

8. Business Model
• Revenue based on news packages
• General News
• Business News
• Sports News
• Photographs
• Infographics
• Category of service
• Mix and match
• Number of
stories/photographs
• Circulation of newspaper

9. Important News Agencies
Name Country Abbreviation
Agence France-Presse France AFP
Associated Press USA AP
Thomson Reuters UK-Canada
Xinhua China
Deutsche Presse-Agentur Germany DPA
Kyodo News Japan
Associated Press of Pakistan Pakistan APP
Information Telegraph Agency of
Russia Tass
Russia
United Press International USA UPI

10. Indian news agencies
Name Language Abbreviation
Press Trust of India English PTI
United News of India English UNI
Asian News International English ANI
Indo-Asian News Service English IANS
Bhasha Hindi
Univarta Hindi

11. Distribution of International News Service
• Indian Law requires that all international news services must have an Indian
partner.
• The Indian partner distributes the service to Indian media outlets.

12. History of Indian News Services
1910
Birth of Associated Press of India, floated by K C
Roy, often called the first Indian news agency
1919
Reuters takes over operations of API but still uses
API credit line
1945
API registered as a private limited Indian company
wholly owned by Reuters
1947, August 27 Press Trust of India incorporated in Madras
1948
Hindusthan Samachar set up by S.S. Apte. It
provided news in ten Indian languages
1949, February 1
PTI begins news services, taking over operations
from API but still maintains links with Reuters.
1953 PTI becomes a free agent, independent of Reuters

13. History of Indian News Services
1961 United News of India is launched
1976
PTI, UNI, Samachar Bharati and Hindusthan
Samachar merged to become 'Samachar'
1978, April
News agencies go back to their original units to
restart independent news operations
1981
UNI starts selling news to Gulf countries and
Singapore.
1982 Univarta, UNI’s Hindi news service is launched
1992 UNI’s Urdu service is launched

14. Press Trust of India
• Registered in 1947
• Started functioning in 1949
• PTI is a trust
• It is run by Board of Directors
• Chairman is elected every year
• CEO, also called Editor-in-Chief,
runs day to day operations

15. Press Trust of India
• 1. 400 correspondents
• 500 stringers
• Distribute 2,000 stories a day
• Distribute 500 pictures a day
• PTI claims 90% of news agency
market share in India
• Bhasha is PTI’s Hindi news service

16. United News of India
• Established in 1961
• Launched Univarta in 1982
• Urdu news service in 1992
• 325 journalists
• 250 stringers
• Run by Board of Directors

17. ANI
• 1. Set up about 50 years ago
• Provides text
• Photographs
• Multimedia
• Distributes Reuters news

18. Indo-Asian News Service
• Established in 1986
• News about Indian diaspora
• IANS Hindi started in 1995

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