Newgroup message

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A newgroup message is a form of control message which is issued to create a new Usenet newsgroup. In the main Usenet hierarchies (rec,art,soc,sci, etc.) newgroup messages are only issued after extensive discussion on the merits of creating the new group, and only a very few trusted individuals are authorized to issue them. (Unauthorized newgroup messages are generally ignored.)

In some hierarchies, e.g. alt. and free., newgroup policies are more free-form, allowing groups to be created more quickly (without the extensive discussion and voting process) and with fewer restrictions. This leads to many "joke" newsgroups such as alt.swedish.chef.bork.bork.bork

Control messages are specially-formatted Usenet messages which are sent to the special Usenet newsgroup control. They propagate through Usenet in the usual manner, but are interpreted by Usenet servers to perform administrative tasks. See Usenet for more detailed technical information.