Newspapers are printed publications which are distributed to the public, typically by sale at newsstands and stores, by subscription, in libraries, or via online access. They report events that have happened and are happening, usually on a daily basis. They are also able to convey analysis and synthesis of information. They may be partisan, nonpartisan or even neutral. They are able to reach a large audience, and they can be effective in shaping opinions and informing public debate.
They often feature a variety of sections, such as local, national and international news, sports events, and celebrity gossip. Many newspapers also publish an editorial page which expresses the editorial opinions of the editor (or an editorial board) on a given topic. Traditionally, they also feature op-eds, which are articles by guest writers that express their personal opinions on a given topic. Most traditional newspapers also include a classified ads section.
In its 20th-century heyday, the New York Daily News was a brawny metro tabloid that thrived on crime and corruption, and served as the model for The Daily Planet, the paper depicted in the 1994 movie “The Paper.” It won Pulitzer Prizes for commentary and reporting. Today, it is still a newspaper with an outsize reputation and a large readership, but it has had to adapt as the industry has shifted from print to digital media.
As of 2018, the Daily News has a weekly circulation of 1.5 million copies, and is the fifth largest newspaper in the United States. Its parent company, Tribune Publishing, has been under pressure since it was bought by cost-slashing hedge fund Alden Global Capital in 2017. Since that time, the newspaper has slashed its staff and outsourced its printing operations.
A common measure of a newspaper’s health is its market penetration, which is the percentage of households receiving it in its market area. In the 1920s, this figure reached 123 percent nationally, but as other forms of media began to compete with newspapers and as the cost of printing fell, it has been slowly declining.
Some people are unable to access newspapers, whether on paper or online, because of poverty or other factors. In addition, some readers are unable to read or understand written English. In these cases, a translated version of the newspaper might be more accessible to them. This is called a local language edition. There are some examples of this in the United Kingdom, where a number of newspapers are published in languages other than English. These are sometimes known as borough editions, and are often sold for a lower price than the standard edition. Some borough editions are also produced in audio form, using voiceover and transcript, for people who cannot read the print versions of the newspapers. This is especially useful for people who are deaf or blind.