A newspaper is a periodical publication consisting of printed or written material. Its main purpose is to provide readers with a brief account of current events locally, nationally or internationally. It is usually written by journalists who may or may not have subject expertise. The content is intended to be informative, unbiased and objective. It is often published daily, semiweekly or weekly and may be distributed in print or online.
Newspapers are also a major source of information on local and national government, economics and politics. They are usually read by educated people and play an important role in educating the public on current events and issues.
Many newspapers include photographs, charts, graphs, sketches and advertisements on their pages. These can be either black and white or color. It is hard to imagine a newspaper without these types of visual representations of news articles.
Some of the most famous newspapers in the world are tabloids. These are characterized by sensational crime stories and celebrity gossip. These publications typically have a higher readership than broadsheet newspapers and attract many advertisers. In the United States, the New York Daily News was one of the first tabloids, founded in 1919. The paper was once involved in a fierce circulation battle with rival tabloids, including the New York Mirror and the New York Evening Graphic. In the 21st century, the Daily News has struggled to keep its audience with sensational stories but still publishes a strong city section and celebrity gossip.
The Daily News has a number of different sections and features, such as sports, entertainment, classified ads, and opinion pieces. Its city news coverage is particularly intense. It has also historically maintained bureaus in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. In 1948, the newspaper created WPIX-TV, whose call letters were based on its nickname “New York’s picture newspaper.” The TV station remains in the News building today, though it is now owned by Tribune.
In addition to focusing on news, some newspapers cover other subjects that are of interest to their readers, such as politics, history, and culture. These are often called niche newspapers and are more specialized than general publications, such as magazines. These niche newspapers are often more expensive than other publications.
There are also regional and international newspapers that focus on specific geographic areas or regions of the world. These publications often have more extensive coverage of politics and business. They may also include a large amount of feature and lifestyle content.
The format of a newspaper can vary, depending on the type of target audience and its budget. For example, an upmarket paper might advertise organic grocers and boutiques while a downmarket paper might sell ads for trade schools, supermarkets, and the sex industry. Similarly, a tabloid might feature satirical cartoons while a broadsheet might have serious editorial content. In South Africa, for example, the newspaper Volksblad switched to a tabloid format in the 1970s while remaining a daily.