
Newspaper – Definition, History, Types and Formats
A newspaper is a periodical publication that provides news, views, features, and other information of public interest, typically issued daily, weekly, or at regular intervals. According to Britannica, this format has long served communities with timely updates.
Newspapers are usually printed on inexpensive paper and funded through subscriptions and advertising, as noted in a detailed definition. This model supports widespread distribution. Read more at Australiainsight.
Certain publications stand out for high editorial independence and journalism quality, earning status as “newspapers of record,” per Wikipedia.
What is a newspaper?
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Publication Type | Periodical offering news and public interest information |
| Frequency | Daily, weekly, or regular intervals |
| Production | Printed on inexpensive paper |
| Funding | Subscriptions and advertising |
- Delivers news, views, features, and public interest topics.
- Issued at regular intervals for consistent access.
- Relies on low-cost paper for affordability.
- Sustained by reader subscriptions and ads.
- Some achieve “newspapers of record” status.
- Emphasises editorial independence in quality outlets.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Core Purpose | News, views, features of public interest |
| Issuance | Daily, weekly, regular |
| Material | Inexpensive paper |
| Revenue | Subscriptions, advertising |
| Distinction | Editorial independence, journalism quality |
| Recognition | “Newspapers of record” |
| Scope | Politics, crime, business, entertainment, sports |
| Ancient Origin | Acta diurna, 59 BC |
What topics do newspapers cover?
Newspapers typically cover local and national politics, crime, business, entertainment, sports, and other topics of public interest.
Standard Content Areas
- Local politics
- National politics
- Crime reports
- Business news
- Entertainment
- Sports
Editorial Distinctions
High