The use of 'the'

Would you say I read news online or I read the news online? Thanks.

I would say that it is better "news online" because you re talking about generic news.

I think you could say it either way. I suppose it's a bit more generic without the "the", however.

I would say: I read the news online.

"the news" is what I think of as the publication of news reports, as in the Nightly News, or a News Broadcast...

"news" simply means any kind of news (gossip, hearsay, and yes--news reports, etc)

The noun "news", when meaning an account of current events, usually has the definite article preceding it, whether it's reported on-line or though any other medium. To say "I read news online" sounds odd, almost pidgin.

I agree with Damian.

I think either one sounds fine, but "the news" still sounds better and I'm much more likely to say it that way.

I agree that "news" by itself can be anything (e.g gossip in a chatroom ) whereas "the news" means a news publication.