Reuters

Reuters is a big news agency that tells stories from all around the world. It is owned by a company called Thomson Reuters and has about 2,500 writers and 600 picture-takers working in 200 places across 165 countries. They share news in 16 different languages, making it one of the largest news agencies in the world.

Reuters was started in London in 1851 by a man named Paul Reuter. In 2008, a company from Canada called Thomson Corporation joined with Reuters to create Thomson Reuters Corporation.

Today, Reuters does not have one main office. Its leaders work in different cities, with one leader based in New York and another in London. In December 2024, Reuters was one of the most visited news websites, with over 105 million people reading its stories each month.

History

Paul Julius Reuter started his work in news in 1850 in Aachen. He used homing pigeons and later the electric telegraph to send messages between Brussels and Aachen. In 1851, he moved to London and set up a news service there, focusing on business news for banks and companies. Soon after, newspapers began subscribing to his service. Reuters was the first to report important international news, such as Abraham Lincoln’s assassination in Europe in 1865.

In 1865, Reuter formed his company called Reuter's Telegram Company Limited. By the late 1800s, Reuter’s company expanded to the Far East and South America, using new technology like telegraph wires. In 1923, Reuters began using radio to send news around the world. During the world wars, Reuters worked to support news reporting while staying independent.

In the 1960s, Reuters started using computers to send financial news across oceans. By the 1980s, it became a public company and later joined with Thomson Corporation in 2008 to form Thomson Reuters. Through the years, Reuters has kept growing, winning many awards and continuing to provide news to the world. In 2026, Reuters made an agreement with the National Basketball Association to share basketball videos globally.

Journalists

Reuters employs about 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in around 200 locations around the world. These journalists follow strict rules to ensure their reporting is fair, accurate, and trustworthy.

Sadly, some Reuters journalists have faced danger while doing their work. For example, in the late 1960s, journalist Anthony Grey was detained in China while covering important events. He was released after over two years.

In 2018, two Reuters journalists in Myanmar were arrested while investigating serious issues. They were later freed and received many awards for their brave work. In 2023, a team of Reuters journalists received an award for uncovering important human rights concerns.

Killed on assignment

Pulitzer Prizes

Reuters has won 13 Pulitzer Prizes, all since 2008.

Controversies

Accusation of collaboration with the CIA

In 1977, reports from Rolling Stone and The New York Times suggested that Reuters worked with the CIA. Reuters asked for proof but did not receive any.

Policy of objective language

Reuters tries to stay neutral and does not use words like terrorist in its stories. This drew attention after the September 11 attacks. Reuters’ rules say they can talk about terrorism in general but should not call specific events or people terrorists without proof. Other news groups, like the Associated Press, use the word terrorist . In 2004, Reuters asked a Canadian newspaper to remove its name because the paper added the word terrorist to Reuters’ stories.

Climate change reporting

In 2013, a Reuters reporter left after almost 20 years. He said it became harder to publish stories about climate change after comments from a top editor who did not believe strongly in climate change. Reuters said it still has team members working on climate change stories.

Photograph controversies

In 2006, Reuters had to stop working with a photographer who changed photos during the 2006 Israel–Lebanon conflict. In 2010, Reuters was asked about changing parts of photos from the 2010 Gaza flotilla. Reuters said it usually cuts photo edges and later changed the photos back.

Indian man falsely accused of cybercrime

In 2020, three Reuters journalists used the wrong picture in a story, leading an Indian man to be questioned by police for many hours. Reuters said sorry and tried to get other news groups to remove their stories about it.

Fernando Henrique Cardoso interview

In 2015, Reuters made a mistake in a story about a past leader of Brazil. The mistake made it seem like he was involved in bad things, but Reuters later said it was an error.

Funding by the UK Government

In 2019, old papers showed that in the 1960s and 1970s, the UK government helped Reuters with money so it could cover news better in the Middle East. The UK said this would not change what Reuters reported but might influence it a little.

Partnership with TASS

In 2020, Reuters worked with a Russian news group. After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Reuters stopped this partnership.

Fossil fuel advertising

Some groups said Reuters should not carry ads for companies that use a lot of fossil fuels because it might affect how Reuters reports on climate change.

Allegations of journalism in India without authorization

In 2023, an Indian government group took away work rights from a Reuters journalist, saying he did work in India without permission. Reuters said the journalist was not doing news work there, but the case was still going on.

Valerie Zink resignation

In 2025, a Reuters photo journalist left after saying the company supported one country’s side in a conflict too much and did not trust other reporters. She also said several Reuters workers were hurt in an attack.