World news refers to the latest international news, typically as reported by news agencies such as Reuters, AFP, and AP. These are often referred to as wire services or news agencies because they are organized to deliver the latest world news to their subscribers, which may include print media and radio and television stations.
While other tabloids threw in the occasional story about health miracle cures or celebrity sightings, WWN specialized in supernatural and paranormal stories. Typical topics included reports of new findings related to the Bible, such as relics from Noah’s Ark and the Garden of Eden (claimed to be in Colorado), as well as a new book written by God himself. Other stories claimed that natural disasters and human economic activities such as drilling for oil have opened portals to Hell from which demons have escaped and are now attacking Earth.
Cryptids such as Bigfoot, mermen, real-life catwomen, half-alligator half-human hybrids and kangaroo women were also frequent topics on WWN covers. The show even ran a story about Bat Boy, a creature from the movie “The Dark Knight Trilogy” who was reported to be terrorizing Hawaii. The cult-favorite character was later parodied by rapper Travis Scott on his 2021 song “Escape Plan.”
After each broadcast, World News Now concludes with a recap of the week’s news. It is also the only news program on ABC that runs on Friday mornings. When a full-time anchor departs the program, a tribute is paid to them at the end of the show with a graphic sequence of their headshot being superimposed into a side view of the original WWN set’s rafters and monitors.