Editorial guide
National, Regional, Local, and Community Media Explained
A plain-language guide to coverage levels used in outlet cards and country directories.
- By
- World Media Outlets Editorial Team
- Published
- 2026-06-22
- Last reviewed
- 2026-06-22
National sources
National sources usually cover countrywide politics, economy, public institutions, major events, and national culture. They can be useful starting points, but they may not show how a story affects a specific city or region.
Regional and local sources
Regional and local outlets often focus on provincial, state, municipal, or community issues. They are especially useful for public services, weather alerts, courts, transport, schools, and local elections.
Community and specialist sources
Community, diaspora, language-specific, business, technology, sports, and investigative outlets can add context that broad general-news sources may miss.