What Is a Newspaper?
A newspaper is a publication consisting of printed news items in a regular cycle, usually on a daily or weekly basis. It is distributed in hard copy, primarily through newsstands and shops, but also in supermarkets and at other locations. The contents of newspapers are generally compiled and published by a journalistic organization, often with the aid of an editor (or editorial board), and include a wide range of topics, including politics and government, business and economics, crime, weather, science, computers and technology, sports, society, and more. Typically, they contain news stories relating to events and people that have recently occurred, as well as opinion articles called op-eds.
The most important aspect of a newspaper is its periodicity, with the main advantage being that it can quickly provide information on events as they happen. Another key feature is public accessibility; traditionally this was achieved through distribution at newsstands, shops and libraries, and, since the 1990s, by online newspaper websites. Newspapers are usually accessible to people who can read, although for some groups such as the homeless, impoverished and those living in remote or rural areas this is not always the case.
While many traditional newspapers have a general-interest appeal, some are more focused on specific interests such as politics or sport; these are sometimes termed tabloids. The most famous example is the New York Daily News, which in its 20th-century heyday was a brawny metro tabloid whose crime-busting led to a Pulitzer Prize for investigative journalism. It was founded in 1929 and based for most of its existence in the News Building on East 42nd Street, an official city and national landmark designed by John Mead Howells and Raymond Hood. The building was later moved to 450 West 33rd Street in 1995; it is currently home to WPIX-TV, which is an affiliate of CBS Radio.
Other newspapers may focus on a particular genre, such as comics or magazines; for example, The Times and The Sunday Times in the United Kingdom publish separate, independent Sunday papers. Most major newspapers have a website in addition to the print edition and many also offer an E-dition, which is an electronic version of the paper that can be read on a computer or mobile device.
In addition to distributing the paper through various media outlets, newspapers also often promote their content through social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter. This provides the opportunity for readers to interact with the newspaper, and for writers to receive feedback on their work. As a result, these sites have become an important part of the newspaper industry. In addition, some newspapers also maintain a dedicated blog where writers can discuss current events and issues.