how did the word news originate?

Answer 1

"News" developed as a special use of the plural form of "new" in the 14th century. In Middle English, the equivalent word was 'newes', based on the French 'nouvelles'.

It is not, as is often claimed, an acronym for "north, east, west, south".

Answer 2

It is an acronym from the first letters of North, East, West and South, meaning that information is obtained from all over the place/country/world, as is applicable.