<PAGE>
 
  AS filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 1998.

                                                   Registration No. 333-________
================================================================================

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

                                   FORM S-8

                         REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                             NEWSEDGE CORPORATION
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

               Delaware                              04-3016142
      (State or other jurisdiction                (I.R.S. Employer
    of incorporation or organization)            Identification No.)
 
                           80 Blanchard Road
                       Burlington, Massachusetts           01083
             (Address of Principal Executive Offices)    (Zip Code)
           ----------------------------------------------------------

                                1995 Stock Plan
                       1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
                           (Full title of the plan)
           ----------------------------------------------------------

                              Edward R. Siegfried
                            Chief Financial Officer
                              NewsEDGE Corporation
                               80 Blanchard Road
                        Burlington, Massachusetts  01083
                                 (781) 229-3000
           (Name and address including zip code and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)
           ----------------------------------------------------------

                                   Copy to:
                         Lawrence S. Wittenberg, Esq.
                        Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP
                               High Street Tower
                                125 High Street
                          Boston, Massachusetts  02110
                                 (617) 248-7000
           ----------------------------------------------------------
                  
                        Calculation of Registration Fee
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
===========================================================================================================
 Title of Securities       Amount to be           Proposed            Proposed             Amount of
  to be registered          registered             maximum             maximum         registration fee
                                                offering price        aggregate    
                                                 per share/1/      offering price
<S>                    <C>                      <C>                <C>                 <C>
1995 STOCK PLAN                            

Common Stock, par        394,979 shares           $9.77(1)         $3,858,944.80(1)      $1,138.39
  value $.01           3,105,021 shares           $8.21875(2)      $  25,519,391(2)      $7,528.22
 
===========================================================================================================
  1995 EMPLOYEE 
STOCK PURCHASE PLAN      

Common Stock, par        325,000 shares           $8.21875(2)      $2,671,093.70(2)      $  787.97 
   value $.01
===========================================================================================================
    TOTAL:             3,825,000 shares                                                  $9,454.58
===========================================================================================================
</TABLE>

/1/  Such shares are issuable upon exercise of outstanding options with fixed
exercise prices.  Pursuant to Rule 457(h), the aggregate offering price and the
fee have been computed upon the basis of the price at which such options may be
exercised.

/2/  The price of $8.21875 per share, which is the average of the high and low
prices of the Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq National Market System on
February 18, 1998, is set forth solely for purposes of calculating the filing
fee.
<PAGE>
 
     This Registration Statement registers additional securities of the same
class as other securities for which the Registration Statement No. 33-98786 on
Form S-8 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 30,
1995 relating to NewsEDGE Corporation's (formerly Desktop Data, Inc.) 1995 Stock
Plan and 1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Pursuant to General Instruction E,
the contents of the above-listed Registration Statement are hereby incorporated
by reference.


                                    PART II

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 8.   Exhibits
          --------

    Exhibit No.   Description of Exhibits
    -----------   -----------------------
                
       5.1        Opinion of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP 

      23.1        Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP             

      23.2        Consent of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP (included in
                  Exhibit 5.1)

      24.1        Power of Attorney (contained in Pages 3 and 4 of this 
                  Registration Statement)                               

      99.1        1995 Stock Plan, as amended (incorporated by reference to
                  Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
                  Form S-4 (File No. 333-44887))

      99.2        1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (incorporated by
                  reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant's Registration
                  Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-44887))
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in Burlington, Massachusetts, on the 25th day of February, 1998.

                                          NEWSEDGE CORPORATION
            
            
                                          By: /s/ Edward R. Siegfried
                                              ---------------------------------
                                              Edward R. Siegfried
                                              Chief Financial Officer


                       POWER OF ATTORNEY AND SIGNATURES

     We, the undersigned officers and directors of NewsEDGE Corporation, hereby
severally constitute and appoint Donald L. McLagan and Edward R. Siegfried, and
each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys with full power to them, and
each of them singly, to sign for us and in our names in the capacities indicated
below, the Registration Statement filed herewith and any and all amendments
thereto (including post-effective amendments), and generally to do all such
things in our names and on our behalf in our capacities as officers and
directors to enable NewsEDGE Corporation to comply with the provisions of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all requirements of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may
be signed by our said attorneys, or any of them, to said Registration Statement
and any and all amendments thereto.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature                        Title(s)                   Date
---------                        --------                   ----
                                                                 
/s/ Donald L. McLagan            President, Chairman,       February 25, 1998
-----------------------------    Chief Executive Officer         
Donald L. McLagan                and Director                    
                                 (principal executive 
                                 officer)   
                                                                 
                                                                 
/s/ Edward R. Siegfried          Vice President, Finance,   February 25, 1998
-----------------------------    Chief Financial Officer,
Edward R. Siegfried              Treasurer and Assistant 
                                 Secretary         
                                 (principal financial 
                                 officer)   
                                                                 
/s/ Michael E. Kolowich          Vice Chairman and          February 25, 1998
-----------------------------    Director  
Michael E. Kolowich

<PAGE>
 
/s/ Ellen Carnahan               Director                   February 25, 1998
-----------------------------
Ellen Carnahan
 
/s/ June Rokoff                  Director                   February 25, 1998
-----------------------------
June Rokoff
 
/s/ Rory Cowan                   Director                   February 25, 1998
-----------------------------
Rory Cowan
 
/s/ William A. Devereaux         Director                   February 25, 1998
-----------------------------
William A. Devereaux
 
/s/ James D. Daniell             Director                   February 25, 1998
-----------------------------
James D. Daniell

<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
                                 -------------

Exhibit No.        Description of Exhibits
-----------        -----------------------

    5.1            Opinion of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP 

   23.1            Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP             

   23.2            Consent of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP (included in
                   Exhibit 5.1)

   24.1            Power of Attorney (contained in Pages 3 and 4 of this
                   Registration Statement)

   99.1            1995 Stock Plan, as amended (incorporated by reference to
                   Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
                   Form S-4 (File No. 333-44887))

   99.2            1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (incorporated
                   by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant's Registration
                   Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-44887))
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 10541}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "NEWSEDGE CORP", "cik": "0000858912", "assigned-sic": "7370", "irs-number": "043016142", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-46899", "film-number": "98549522"}, "business-address": {"street1": "80 BLANCHARD RD", "city": "BURLINGTON", "state": "MA", "zip": "01803", "phone": "6172293000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "DESKTOP DATA INC", "street2": "80 BLANCHARD RD", "city": "BURLINGTON", "state": "MA", "zip": "01803"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "DESKTOP DATA INC", "date-changed": "19950629"}}
AS filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 1998.

                                                   Registration No. 333-________
================================================================================

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

                                   FORM S-8

                         REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                             NEWSEDGE CORPORATION
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

               Delaware                              04-3016142
      (State or other jurisdiction                (I.R.S. Employer
    of incorporation or organization)            Identification No.)
 
                           80 Blanchard Road
                       Burlington, Massachusetts           01083
             (Address of Principal Executive Offices)    (Zip Code)
           ----------------------------------------------------------

                                1995 Stock Plan
                       1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
                           (Full title of the plan)
           ----------------------------------------------------------

                              Edward R. Siegfried
                            Chief Financial Officer
                              NewsEDGE Corporation
                               80 Blanchard Road
                        Burlington, Massachusetts  01083
                                 (781) 229-3000
           (Name and address including zip code and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)
           ----------------------------------------------------------

                                   Copy to:
                         Lawrence S. Wittenberg, Esq.
                        Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP
                               High Street Tower
                                125 High Street
                          Boston, Massachusetts  02110
                                 (617) 248-7000
           ----------------------------------------------------------
                  
                        Calculation of Registration Fee
===========================================================================================================
 Title of Securities       Amount to be           Proposed            Proposed             Amount of
  to be registered          registered             maximum             maximum         registration fee
                                                offering price        aggregate    
                                                 per share/1/      offering price
1995 STOCK PLAN                            

Common Stock, par        394,979 shares           $9.77(1)         $3,858,944.80(1)      $1,138.39
  value $.01           3,105,021 shares           $8.21875(2)      $  25,519,391(2)      $7,528.22
 
===========================================================================================================
  1995 EMPLOYEE 
STOCK PURCHASE PLAN      

Common Stock, par        325,000 shares           $8.21875(2)      $2,671,093.70(2)      $  787.97 
   value $.01
===========================================================================================================
    TOTAL:             3,825,000 shares                                                  $9,454.58
===========================================================================================================
/1/  Such shares are issuable upon exercise of outstanding options with fixed
exercise prices.  Pursuant to Rule 457(h), the aggregate offering price and the
fee have been computed upon the basis of the price at which such options may be
exercised.

/2/  The price of $8.21875 per share, which is the average of the high and low
prices of the Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq National Market System on
February 18, 1998, is set forth solely for purposes of calculating the filing
fee.
This Registration Statement registers additional securities of the same
class as other securities for which the Registration Statement No. 33-98786 on
Form S-8 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 30,
1995 relating to NewsEDGE Corporation's (formerly Desktop Data, Inc.) 1995 Stock
Plan and 1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Pursuant to General Instruction E,
the contents of the above-listed Registration Statement are hereby incorporated
by reference.

                                    PART II

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 8.   Exhibits
          --------

    Exhibit No.   Description of Exhibits
    -----------   -----------------------
                
       5.1        Opinion of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP 

      23.1        Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP             

      23.2        Consent of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP (included in
                  Exhibit 5.1)

      24.1        Power of Attorney (contained in Pages 3 and 4 of this 
                  Registration Statement)                               

      99.1        1995 Stock Plan, as amended (incorporated by reference to
                  Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
                  Form S-4 (File No. 333-44887))

      99.2        1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (incorporated by
                  reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant's Registration
                  Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-44887))
SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in Burlington, Massachusetts, on the 25th day of February, 1998.

                                          NEWSEDGE CORPORATION
            
            
                                          By: /s/ Edward R. Siegfried
                                              ---------------------------------
                                              Edward R. Siegfried
                                              Chief Financial Officer

                       POWER OF ATTORNEY AND SIGNATURES

     We, the undersigned officers and directors of NewsEDGE Corporation, hereby
severally constitute and appoint Donald L. McLagan and Edward R. Siegfried, and
each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys with full power to them, and
each of them singly, to sign for us and in our names in the capacities indicated
below, the Registration Statement filed herewith and any and all amendments
thereto (including post-effective amendments), and generally to do all such
things in our names and on our behalf in our capacities as officers and
directors to enable NewsEDGE Corporation to comply with the provisions of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all requirements of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may
be signed by our said attorneys, or any of them, to said Registration Statement
and any and all amendments thereto.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature                        Title(s)                   Date
---------                        --------                   ----
                                                                 
/s/ Donald L. McLagan            President, Chairman,       February 25, 1998
-----------------------------    Chief Executive Officer         
Donald L. McLagan                and Director                    
                                 (principal executive 
                                 officer)   
                                                                 
                                                                 
/s/ Edward R. Siegfried          Vice President, Finance,   February 25, 1998
-----------------------------    Chief Financial Officer,
Edward R. Siegfried              Treasurer and Assistant 
                                 Secretary         
                                 (principal financial 
                                 officer)   
                                                                 
/s/ Michael E. Kolowich          Vice Chairman and          February 25, 1998
-----------------------------    Director  
Michael E. Kolowich
/s/ Ellen Carnahan               Director                   February 25, 1998
-----------------------------
Ellen Carnahan
 
/s/ June Rokoff                  Director                   February 25, 1998
-----------------------------
June Rokoff
 
/s/ Rory Cowan                   Director                   February 25, 1998
-----------------------------
Rory Cowan
 
/s/ William A. Devereaux         Director                   February 25, 1998
-----------------------------
William A. Devereaux
 
/s/ James D. Daniell             Director                   February 25, 1998
-----------------------------
James D. Daniell
EXHIBIT INDEX
                                 -------------

Exhibit No.        Description of Exhibits
-----------        -----------------------

    5.1            Opinion of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP 

   23.1            Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP             

   23.2            Consent of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP (included in
                   Exhibit 5.1)

   24.1            Power of Attorney (contained in Pages 3 and 4 of this
                   Registration Statement)

   99.1            1995 Stock Plan, as amended (incorporated by reference to
                   Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
                   Form S-4 (File No. 333-44887))

   99.2            1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (incorporated
                   by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant's Registration
                   Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-44887))