A newspaper is a publication printed on paper, typically on a daily or weekly basis. Its primary goal is to publish news, but also features articles of a general nature on political events and personalities; business and finance; crime, weather, and natural disasters; health and medicine; science and technology; sports; and society, food and fashion. Historically, newspapers were among the most popular and influential of mass media, with a high market penetration in many areas—in the 1920s, daily newspapers had an average circulation of 123 percent of households in their local markets. But as the Internet, television, and other new forms of mass communication became more widely available and cheaper to produce and distribute, the market for newspapers has fallen sharply.
A key metric in measuring the popularity and impact of a newspaper is its market penetration—the percentage of households receiving the paper as measured by mail subscriptions or pickup. The higher the number of people receiving a newspaper, the more widely it is embraced as a source of information and opinion. In the United States, as a result of increased competition from other forms of mass media and declining advertising revenues, newspaper market penetration is currently at its lowest level in history.
While most newspapers target a broad audience, some focus on more narrow groups of readers within limited geographic areas. For example, weekly newspapers often serve specific populations such as business executives or sports fans within a given city.
In addition to offering a wide range of news, newspapers often contain comics and advertisements. These may be paid advertisements or classified ads that offer products, services, jobs, or real estate. Most newspapers also feature editorials and opinions on current events and issues.
Many newspapers include maps or illustrations in their pages to help readers better visualize the location of an event or story. Some even provide information on public transportation routes and schedules for a city or region.
Traditionally, the main function of a newspaper is to report on local, national and international events. However, in modern times, some papers also carry more opinion pieces and lifestyle pieces. Moreover, they can also act as an advocate for the rights of individuals or groups of people.
The New York Daily News is a morning tabloid newspaper which was once the largest newspaper in the United States. It was founded in 1919 as the Illustrated Daily News, and quickly gained a following with sensational coverage of crime, scandal, and violence; lurid photographs; and cartoons. The newspaper was sold to the cost-slashing hedge fund Alden Global Capital in 2016, and its former CEO, Heath Freeman, has been accused of ruthless cost-cutting at the paper. The New York Daily News is part of the Tribune Publishing Company, which also owns the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune. The company has recently announced that it will halt hiring of summer journalism interns in the wake of a series of staffing cuts. The move has angered union leaders.