Newspapers: What are they?

Newspapers are a part of our daily lives. Newspapers are our way of connecting with the current happenings around the world. We read them almost every single day. But do we actually know what they are? Do we really appreciate the diverse variations on newspaper article formats?

There are two salient types of newspaper structure. One is the broadsheet, and the other is the tabloid. They each have their individual differences, similarities, advantages and disadvantages.

The most noticeable feature is the size difference of the two types of newspaper. One page of a broadsheet newspaper is usually a large A2 size, while one page of a tabloid newspaper is a much more diminutive A4 size.

The two types of newspaper also differ in the articles reported. The tabloids generally report more human-interest and sensational news. It is in these articles that there is more coverage of celebrity icons. The broadsheets, on the other hand, report more formal, factual news, including more statistics. These tend to be rather dry, with many facts and figures. However, the broadsheets tend to be more organised as compared to tabloids.

The next difference is the use of language and the tone. Broadsheets generally use more sophisticated vocabulary as compared to tabloids. However, the type of article in question admittedly plays a role in determining usage of language as well. Tabloids would also incorporate a more jovial or informal tone when reporting news while the broadsheets take a more professional approach, keeping their articles formal and factual.

The third difference is the coverage of news. Broadsheets usually have a greater extent of coverage than tabloids. Broadsheets cover news coming in even from remote places such as Afghanistan, Siberia or even the Himalayas. In stark contrast, tabloids tend to stick to the more well-known parts of the world such as capitals of major countries or important regions in a specific area. They might only cover sensational news from Paris, Washington D.C. or perhaps Tokyo. Admittedly, the type of article in question is also a factor in determining the extent of coverage.

The final difference is the method of conveying news. Tabloids tend to include more photographs, as many as three or four per article, or perhaps relevant cartoon scenes while broadsheets are in general extremely wordy. One picture per article is usually the maximum, unless there are circumstance like headline news.

So in the end, which should one pick? The dry, or the exciting? The formal, or the informal? The important, or the unimportant? It depends to a very large degree on the reader’s aims and objectives of reading the newspapers. If one is aiming to learn about global affairs, one would be better suited reading the hard news articles in a broadsheet. If one is looking for local and regional gossip to talk about, the lifestyle articles in tabloids are recommended. Both types of article are important as they complement each other. However, each reader should clarify what they really want out of the reading experience and make a decision based on that.