The news is a collection of messages called articles. Each article is designated as belonging to one or more newsgroups. These articles are passed from one computer system to another. The newsgroups are arranged into categories in a hierarchical manner. Users at a site can usually select any of the groups that are available and can often reply to or post an article. Some estimates put the number of participants at more than 40 million worldwide.

Usenet is a community of users helping each other and exchanging opinions. A code of behavior has developed. The rules are, of course, voluntary, but users are expected to obtain a copy of some articles about working with Usenet and to follow the rules. Several newsgroups carry regular postings of articles meant to inform the Usenet community. These are often found in the groups news.announce.newgroups, news.announce.newusers, and news.answers.

You use software called a newsreader to work with the articles and newsgroups in Usenet news. Several different newsreaders are available. The one you use will depend on your preferences and what’s available on the system with which you access Usenet.

You’ll probably find Usenet a valuable resource for information on a wide array of topics. It can be enjoyable to read and participate in the discussions. Services are available on the World Wide Web to search for newsgroups related to a specific topic and to search for articles that contain keywords or phrases.

The email discussion groups and Usenet newsgroups can be thought of as communities of people sharing common interests. There are generally accepted rules of behavior or etiquette for list members. These include providing appropriate, thoughtful, and concise messages to the group, providing a summary of the responses received in answer to a question, and communicating with other group members in a civil and respectful manner.

Summary | Terms | Exercises | FYIs

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