A newspaper is a periodical publication that contains written information about current events. It is usually typed in black ink on a white or gray background and distributed via newsstand sales, subscriptions, and/or advertising. It contains a mix of current news and opinion, weather forecasts, classified advertisements, obituaries, comics, and crossword puzzles. In general, the purpose of a newspaper is to convey current information, or “news” as quickly and efficiently as possible to its intended audience. The nature of what constitutes news varies with the target readership. For example, a newspaper aimed at the general population might include news about politics, crime, wars, and economics; while one aimed at farmers might contain news about developments in farming techniques, agricultural research, and crop prices.

A key distinguishing feature of a newspaper is its editorial page. This section carries opinions on public issues expressed by the editor and/or editorial board of the paper (as distinguished from the news pages, which generally offer objective reporting). In addition to the editorial, the page often includes opinion articles called op-eds, syndicated columns, readers’ letters, and political cartoons. The editorial page is usually identified in some way, often with the newspaper’s name printed under its masthead (q.v).

The earliest direct ancestor of the modern newspaper was a handwritten news sheet known as Acta Diurna, or Daily Events, which was posted in Rome in 59 B.C.E. Newspapers developed into more sophisticated publications in the 17th century and by the early 19th century, many cities in Europe and North America published newspapers. Newspapers with high levels of editorial independence, high journalistic standards, and large circulation are referred to as newspapers of record.

In recent times, the internet has led to a decline in the popularity of newspaper reading and there is much debate about how newspapers will evolve and survive in the future. Some believe that the newspaper as we know it will disappear and be replaced by online and broadcast media, while others see the newspaper surviving in some form, possibly with more emphasis on analysis and commentary.

In addition to its main sections, many traditional newspapers also have specialized editions targeted to specific interests or areas of the economy, such as business, sports, arts, and local news. These special interest newspapers are typically published on a weekly or less frequent basis and are sometimes known as newsletters. Similarly, some regional newspapers are based on the news of a single town or region and are often marketed through zoning or editioning. Many major newspapers also produce a number of smaller, local or community oriented editions that are distributed at varying frequency and feature locale specific news and advertising. These local and neighborhood newspapers are often referred to as shoppers or newsletters. Some of these are published by government agencies while the majority are independently owned and operated. In most cases, these small local and community newspapers are supported by a mixture of advertising and subscription revenues.