50 Facts About Reuters

The Origins of Reuters

The story of Reuters begins with an innovative idea and a determined entrepreneur. Let's dive into the early days of this iconic news agency.

1. Founding: Reuters was founded by Paul Julius Reuter in London in 1851. Reuter, a German-born entrepreneur, initially used pigeons to fly stock market prices between Brussels and Aachen.

2. Early Years: The agency quickly gained prominence for its speed and accuracy in financial news. By 1858, several newspapers began to subscribe to Reuters' services, recognizing the value of its timely and reliable information.

3. Name Origin: The name "Reuters" is derived from the German word "Reuter," meaning "messenger" or "courier".

Global Expansion and Reach

From its humble beginnings, Reuters expanded its operations worldwide, becoming a global powerhouse in news and information.

4. Global Reach: Today, Reuters operates in nearly 200 locations worldwide, employing around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists.

5. Languages: Reuters provides news coverage in 16 languages, catering to a diverse global audience.

6. History of Innovation: Reuters has been at the forefront of technological innovation. In the 1960s, it was one of the first news agencies to transmit financial data over oceans via computers.

Technological Advancements

Reuters has always embraced technology to stay ahead in the news industry. Here are some key milestones in their technological journey.

7. Financial Data Transmission: In 1973, Reuters began making computer-terminal displays of foreign-exchange rates available to clients, further solidifying its position in the financial news sector.

8. Electronic Transactions: By 1981, Reuters supported electronic transactions on its computer network and developed several electronic brokerage and trading services.

9. Public Company: Reuters was floated as a public company in 1984, listing its shares on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and NASDAQ.

Historic Moments and Coverage

Reuters has been at the forefront of some of the most significant events in modern history, providing timely and accurate coverage.

10. Berlin Wall Coverage: In 1961, Reuters scooped the news of the erection of the Berlin Wall, and in 1989, it published the first story of the Berlin Wall being breached.

11. Internet Dominance: In the 1990s, Reuters was the dominant news service on the Internet, thanks to partnerships with early Internet-based news providers like ClariNet and Pointcast.

12. Acquisition by Thomson: In 2008, Reuters was acquired by the Thomson Corporation of Canada, forming Thomson Reuters.

Modern-Day Reuters

Today, Reuters continues to be a leading source of news and information, adapting to the digital age while maintaining its core values.

13. Headquarters: The parent company, Thomson Reuters, is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

14. News Coverage: Each day, Reuters delivers over 2.3 million unique news stories, 1.4 million news alerts, 850,000 pictures and images, and 100,000 video stories.

15. Expert Views: Reuters provides nearly 4,600 expert views on major stories in markets, economies, and politics.

Awards and Recognition

Reuters' commitment to excellence has earned it numerous accolades and awards over the years.

16. Investigative Reports: The agency produces nearly 100 investigative reports annually, revealing proprietary facts and insights into people, companies, institutions, and trends shaping the world.

17. Awards and Recognition: Reuters has received over 70 award recognitions in 2017 and 102 in 2016, including a Pulitzer Prize and several Overseas Press Club Awards.

18. Global Impact: Reuters news is read and seen by more than 1 billion people worldwide through multiple platforms, including over 750 TV broadcasters in 115 countries.

Clientele and Audience

Reuters serves a vast and diverse clientele, from newspapers to professional users, ensuring its news reaches a wide audience.

19. Newspaper Clients: Reuters serves over 1,000 newspaper clients globally, including 13 of the top 15 newspapers worldwide.

20. Unique Monthly Visitors: The Reuters website attracts 33 million unique monthly visitors.

21. Active Users: Reuters TV has 2 million active users.

22. Professional Users: Hundreds of thousands of professionals use Thomson Reuters' premium financial, legal, tax, and accounting products.

Commitment to Accuracy and Integrity

Reuters' dedication to accuracy and integrity is evident in its operations and principles.

23. Fact-Checking Unit: Reuters operates a dedicated fact-checking unit to address online misinformation with coverage that maintains accuracy, integrity, and impartiality.

24. Trust Principles: The Reuters Trust Principles were established to maintain the company's independence, integrity, and freedom from bias.

Pioneering Moments in Journalism

Reuters has been a pioneer in journalism, capturing some of the most significant moments in history.

25. Historic Moments: Reuters has been the first to capture some of the most historic moments of our time, including the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in 1865.

26. Pigeon Service: Initially, Reuters used pigeons to deliver stock market prices between Brussels and Aachen, a method that was both innovative and effective for its time.

27. Financial News Pioneer: Reuters was a pioneer in financial news, providing timely and accurate information that was crucial for investors and traders.

Continuous Innovation

Despite its rich history, Reuters continues to innovate, integrating new technologies to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving media landscape.

28. Global Expansion: Over the years, Reuters has expanded its operations globally, establishing a presence in nearly 200 locations worldwide.

29. Journalistic Excellence: Reuters employs around 2,500 journalists who work tirelessly to deliver high-quality news coverage in 16 languages.

30. Photojournalism: The agency also employs 600 photojournalists who capture critical moments through their lenses, providing visual narratives that complement the text.

31. Technological Advancements: Reuters has continuously adapted to technological advancements, from using pigeons to transmitting financial data via computers and now leveraging AI and other digital tools.

32. AI Integration: Thomson Reuters has integrated AI into its services, offering tools like Ask Practical Law AI and CoCounsel, which provide summarized answers and expert assistance to professionals.

33. Audit Intelligence: In 2024, Thomson Reuters launched Audit Intelligence, an AI-powered data-driven audit solution designed to transform audit practices by reducing errors and enhancing confidence.

34. ESG Reporting: The company has also announced product integrations with SAP to streamline ESG reporting compliance, supporting multinational corporations in meeting emerging regulatory requirements.

35. Innovator of the Year: Thomson Reuters' Core Publishing Solutions were named the "Innovator of the Year" by Printing Impressions in 2024, recognizing its innovative approach to book manufacturing and fulfillment.

36. Social Impact Report: Thomson Reuters publishes an annual Social Impact & ESG Report, detailing its progress on key ESG activities and its commitment to advancing justice, truth, and transparency.

37. Future of Professionals Report: The company is committed to understanding the changing landscape and its impact on professionals, industry, and society, as evident from its Future of Professionals Report 2024.

38. Customer Support: Thomson Reuters offers comprehensive customer support, including technical support, product updates, training sessions, and more, to ensure its products provide optimum efficiency.

39. Customer Service: The company provides dedicated customer service representatives to assist with any questions regarding its solutions and services.

40. Product Integration: Thomson Reuters has integrated its products with various platforms, including SAP, to enhance efficiency and compliance in financial, legal, tax, and accounting sectors.

41. Generative AI Assistant: CoCounsel, a generative AI assistant, is designed to help professionals move faster, see further, and accomplish more by providing professional-grade AI assistance.

42. Generative AI Experience: Ask Practical Law AI offers a generative AI experience that provides summarized answers grounded in Practical Law’s best-in-class content, expertly created and maintained by over 650 attorney-editors.

Impact and Influence

Reuters' influence extends far and wide, impacting professionals and the general public alike.

43. Global Reach Expansion: Reuters continues to expand its global reach, providing news coverage in multiple languages and formats, including TV, print, and digital platforms.

44. Historical Milestones: Reuters has been at the forefront of several historical milestones, including reporting on the fall of the Berlin Wall and the capture of Saddam Hussein.

45. Investigative Journalism: The agency is known for its investigative journalism, producing reports that reveal critical information about people, companies, institutions, and trends shaping the world.

46. Award-Winning Journalism: Reuters has received numerous awards for its journalism, including Pulitzer Prizes and Overseas Press Club Awards, recognizing its commitment to accuracy and integrity.

47. Fact-Checking Initiatives: Reuters operates a dedicated fact-checking unit to address online misinformation, ensuring that the information it provides is accurate and reliable.

48. Global Impact Measurement: The agency measures its global impact through various metrics, including the number of unique news stories, news alerts, pictures, and videos it delivers daily.

49. Professional Users Base: Reuters serves a large base of professional users who rely on its premium financial, legal, tax, and accounting products to make informed decisions.

50. Continuous Innovation: Despite its rich history, Reuters continues to innovate, integrating new technologies like AI into its services to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving media landscape.

Reuters: A Legacy of Trust and Innovation

Reuters stands as a beacon of journalistic excellence and technological innovation. From its humble beginnings with pigeon-based communication to its current status as a global multimedia news provider, Reuters has consistently delivered accurate, impartial news. With operations in nearly 200 locations and coverage in 16 languages, it reaches over a billion people worldwide. The agency's commitment to accuracy, integrity, and impartiality has earned it numerous awards, including Pulitzer Prizes. Reuters' integration of AI and other digital tools ensures it remains at the forefront of the media landscape. Its dedication to fact-checking and investigative journalism further solidifies its reputation as a trusted news source. As Reuters continues to evolve, it remains a vital resource for professionals and the general public, providing the information needed to navigate an ever-changing world.