A newspaper is a publication containing news and commentary, often in the form of articles. Most newspapers are owned by businesses and earn most of their income from advertising, although some, such as The Guardian, are independent. Most newspapers are distributed through subscriptions, newsstand sales and direct mail, and some are available online. Newspapers typically contain a variety of sections, including news and current events; politics and government; sports; business and economics; science and technology; health and medicine; and society and culture. The editorial positions of newspapers are expressed in the op-ed and letters to the editor, and the reporting of news is usually based on interviews with sources.
Most newspapers have an advertising department and a circulation or readership department. Advertisers pay for space in the newspaper in exchange for the opportunity to reach readers who share a specific interest or demographic. The number of subscribers and readers a newspaper attracts influences the size of its advertising sales, and its overall profitability. The profitability of a newspaper is also affected by the amount of free content it offers, and by its reputation for quality journalism and extensive coverage of major world events.
The newspaper industry is currently experiencing a period of rapid change. The digital age has prompted many traditional newspapers to move online, and readers have shifted their consumption habits away from printed products. In addition, a recession has eroded profits and slowing growth in online advertising has dampened the industry’s hopes for a rebound.
Newspapers can be classified as daily or weekly, depending on how frequently they are published and on the number of topics they cover. In general, daily newspapers have greater political and current events coverage, while weekly papers focus on more local news and sports stories. Both types are typically printed on paper with a glossy finish, and they are available in various formats.
Founded in 1919, the New York Daily News was one of the most popular newspapers of its day. Its popularity was largely due to its sensational pictorial coverage and willingness to go the extra mile in search of attention-grabbing headlines. A typical example was its front page of 1928 showing Ruth Snyder mid-electrocution, emblazoned with the headline “DEAD!”
The News had long been locked in a circulation battle with the even more sensational rival tabloid New York Post. By the 1970s, however, circulation was falling rapidly. In an attempt to boost readership, the News reverted to its roots, employing a more provocative tone and style, such as giving Ted Cruz the middle finger via the Statue of Liberty’s hand and repeating its most famous headline of 1975: “Ford to City: Drop Dead.” The paper also built a new headquarters at 220 East 42nd Street designed by Raymond Hood and John Mead Howells, which would later be used as the Daily Planet building in the Superman franchise. The Daily News remains one of the country’s top-selling papers. Its circulation has dropped, however, to less than half of its mid-20th century peak.