Newspapers

Newspapers are publications devoted chiefly to presenting and commenting on the news. Newspapers provide a popular means of staying informed on current events. They also play a vital role in shaping public opinion. 

History

1st “Acta Duma” (Daily Events) published in Rome 59 B.C.

Properties

Frequency And Depth

“Newspapers have certain advantages over the other major news media--television, radio, and newsmagazines. For example, newspapers can cover more news--and in much greater detail--than can television and radio newscasts.”

Political Endorsements

Influential newspapers frequently announce editorial endorsements of favored candidates in elections. These are not hugely influential, but in tight races they may play a tie-breaking role.

Variants

Newsmagazines

Newsmagazines focus on chief national and international events.

Newspapers report local as well as national and international news.”

Dailies

Circulations as large dailies employ many specialists like advertising salespeople, graphic artists, librarians

Timing:

Monthlies:

Audience:

Widespread But Shrinking Numbers: 1,800 dalies, 9,700 weeklies US-wide

Audience: 100-1,00,000 copies per issue, 60 million US-wide

Pricing: Dailies are sold for $0.50 with about 50% advertising content as the primary source of revenue.

Weeklies and monthlies are often smaller in pages and free.

A large daily newspaper provides a great variety of information. News stories cover the latest developments in such fields as government, politics, sports, science, business, and the arts. Other news stories report crimes, disasters, and special events of human interest.

Editorials and columns of opinion comment on controversial issues. Informative feature articles examine a wide range of subjects, including psychology, fashion, health, and child care. Comic strips, advice columns, and other entertainment items also appear regularly in most daily papers.

Producing a daily newspaper requires great speed and efficiency. Reporters, editors, and photographers work under the constant pressure of deadlines. A large daily also employs many other workers, including advertising salespeople, artists, librarians, printing-press operators, and truckdrivers.

This article describes the kinds, organization, production, and business operations of newspapers in the United States. It then discusses newspapers in other countries and traces the history of newspapers. For information on major issues in U.S. journalism and on careers in journalism, see the article JOURNALISM.

Misleading headlines de-emphasizing important facts by placing them on back pages.

Creating Newspapers

Starting a monthly or weekly newspaper is relatively easy. Dailies are much more complex operations and require major organization and funding.