Characteristics, Content and Types of Newspapers
Characteristics of Newspapers
Primarily newspapers are print media even though digital age offers online newspapers and e-newspapers. That is why it has all the features that any print medium has. Major features of mass media are given below:
- Predominance of news-oriented content:
There are three types of content in newspapers: news, views and advertisements. Of these news overshadows the others because newspapers are primarily meant for the dissemination of news.
- Regular periodicity:
Newspapers may be published daily or weekly. Periodicity may vary but, regularity should be kept. Every newspaper keeps a particular regularity in publication.
- Future reference facility:
Being a print medium, newspapers can be kept for future use. This archiving ability makes newspapers one of the main sources of historical research.
- Choice of the time of use:
Unlike television and radio, we can read newspapers at any time. Some read in the morning while others in the evening after work. This facility increases the popularity of newspapers.
- The Literates’ medium:
Unlike television and radio, newspaper demands literacy from the part of the audience.
- Low cost:
Compared to other media, newspaper is a cost effective medium. Anybody can afford a newspaper as it needs no hidden charges or other accessories. Electronic media requires power supply and the new media need digital technology.
- Multiple Users:
Many readers can read a copy of the newspaper simultaneously or separately.
- Textual Medium:
Text is the soul of newspapers, though they carry images and graphics.
Contents of Newspaper
General-interest newspapers are usually journals of current news. Those can include:
Political events
Crime
Business
Culture
Sports
Opinions (either editorials, columns, or political cartoons)
Newspapers use photographs to illustrate stories; they use editorial cartoonists, usually to illustrate writing that is opinion, rather than news.
Some specific features a newspaper may include are:
• weather news and forecasts
• an advice column
• critical reviews of movies, plays, restaurants, etc.
• editorial opinions
• a gossip column
• a sports column or section
• a humor column or section
• a food column
Types of newspapers
Besides the contents, the newspapers also specialize in their type.
• International newspapers
• Weekly newspapers
• Sunday newspapers
• National newspaper
• Local newspaper