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TASS

TASS is a Russian state-owned news agency founded in 1904.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

TASS is a Russian state-owned news agency founded in 1904. It has been known under several names, including ITAR-TASS from 1992 to 2014, and is headquartered in Moscow. TASS is one of Russia's largest news agencies and maintains domestic and international bureaus.

History

TASS originated in 1904 as the St. Petersburg Telegraph Agency, which began operating on 1 September 1904. It later became the Russian Telegraph Agency (ROSTA) before being renamed the Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union (TASS) in 1925, serving as the Soviet Union's official news agency until 1991. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the agency was renamed the Information Telegraph Agency of Russia (ITAR-TASS) in 1992, and it reverted to the TASS name in 2014.

Role and ownership

TASS is a state-owned news agency registered as a federal state unitary enterprise under the Government of Russia. It has historically served as a major official and general news distributor in Russia and internationally.

Operations

The agency reports news in multiple languages, including six daily news languages, and maintains a broad network of domestic and foreign bureaus. TASS publishes large volumes of text, photo, and video content daily.

International presence

TASS has correspondents and branches across Russia and in many other countries. Its scale has been described as making it one of the world's major news agencies.

Key facts

  • TASS originated as the St. Petersburg Telegraph Agency in 1904.
  • It served as the official news agency of the Soviet Union until 1991.
  • The agency was renamed ITAR-TASS in 1992 and reverted to TASS in 2014.
  • TASS is a state-owned federal state unitary enterprise.
  • It operates a broad network of bureaus in Russia and abroad.
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Canadian context

Canadian readers may encounter TASS in international news coverage and media monitoring, especially regarding Russian state media and reporting on foreign affairs.

Frequently asked questions

What does TASS stand for?
Historically, the acronym referred to the Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union; since 2014, TASS is used as the agency's brand name and is no longer officially decoded.
When was TASS founded?
TASS traces its origins to 1904, when the St. Petersburg Telegraph Agency began operating.
Is TASS state-owned?
Yes. TASS is owned by the Government of Russia and is registered as a federal state unitary enterprise.
What was TASS called between 1992 and 2014?
It used the name Information Telegraph Agency of Russia, commonly written as ITAR-TASS.
Where is TASS headquartered?
TASS is headquartered in Moscow, Russia.
What kind of organization is TASS?
TASS is a news agency that provides text, photo, and video reporting in multiple languages.

References

  1. TASS — https://tass.com/history
    Supports: Origin in 1904, renaming timeline, and return to TASS in 2014
  2. TASS — https://tass.com/today
    Supports: Founded in 1904 and agency background
  3. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/ITAR-TASS
    Supports: History, official role, and name changes
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TASS
    Supports: Headquarters, ownership, scale, and bureau network
  5. TASS — https://tass.com/society/1836641
    Supports: 2014 return to TASS name and director-general information