newspaper

A newspaper is a periodical publication that reports current events, offers analysis, and provides a range of content for a broad audience. Typically printed on paper and circulated on a daily, weekly, or another regular schedule, newspapers aim to inform readers about local, national, and international matters, while also covering business, sports, arts, and lifestyle topics. They often include opinion pieces, editorials, and letters to the editor, as well as features, obituaries, and advertisements.

Historically, newspapers emerged in the early modern era as printed news sheets and evolved into more formal journals with regular publication cycles, editorial standards, and distribution networks. The rise of mass literacy, advertising, and professional journalism helped establish norms for reporting, sourcing, and fact-checking. The late 20th and early 21st centuries brought digital technologies that changed production, distribution, and revenue models.

Content and format vary but commonly include news reporting, analysis, opinion sections, and specialized pages such as business, politics, sports, and culture. Physical formats include broadsheet and tabloid sizes, while many titles also publish online editions, apps, and multimedia content to reach digital audiences.

Production involves newsroom reporting, editing, proofreading, layout, printing, and distribution. Revenue traditionally relies on a mix of advertising and sales; many newspapers now pursue digital subscriptions, paywalls, and sponsored content to adapt to changing markets. Newspapers can play a significant role in public life by informing citizens, supporting accountability, and contributing to informed democratic participation, while facing ongoing challenges such as misinformation and the transition to digital platforms.