News article, also known as a news agency, news media, news wire service, press release service, wire agency, or news agency, organization which collects, prepares, and disseminates news from all over the world or a country to publications, newspapers, television and radio broadcasters, other interested users, and government authorities. News agencies also provide features such as feature stories, breaking news, weather forecasts, and sports news. There are many web sites that provide a platform for news agencies and freelance writers to showcase their work. They allow for posting of your resume, articles you have written for publication, free submissions, polls, flash game demos, polls on various topics, etc.

A news agency publishes news reports and other news items for distribution to media outlets. The news agency thus becomes an agency that distributes news and reports and acts as a medium through which news is made available to all. The major components of a news agency include the news desk, news executives, news readers, and news delivery personnel. A news agency thus needs to possess people skills, creative writing skills, information technology skills, marketing skills, finance knowledge, publicity skills, and media management skill. It requires professional development of its staff in order to build a strong staff that can easily adapt to changing news-related conditions.

A major segment of the news agencies is found in newspapers and magazines. Newspapers and magazines not only act as vehicles for distributing news, they also form the basis of information dissemination and community goodwill towards a particular cause or issue. Some newspapers or magazines may specialize in certain subjects such as sports, entertainment, health, business, politics, etc. While some news agencies distribute political and international news, others publish material related to local and ethnic cultures.

Another major type of news agencies is book publishers. News books or news magazines are periodicals or written publications that are released at regular intervals and are distributed to various publishing houses or newsstands. Initially, news books were designed to be disseminated only within the region or locality where the author lived. However, today many news agencies have launched news magazine or periodical services online.

Online news agencies provide a ready source of information based on reliable sources. A good news agency makes use of the latest technology and computer applications to make the service more convenient and efficient. Online news websites provide global coverage. They can be accessed from anywhere in the world for breaking news, sports news, health updates, political news, and international news.

A growing number of news agencies are now offering multimedia services. They provide video footage of events, interviews, or news clips, along with sound to enhance the news report. They can also provide streaming video services to website visitors. Some news agencies provide online databases of current affairs, along with breaking news stories. This database allows users to get news as it happens.