Newspapers and magazines are print publications issued at regular intervals over time. Historically, newspapers were usually issued daily or weekly, but sometimes semi-weekly (twice a week), bi-weekly (every two weeks), or monthly. Magazines, in contrast, were usually issued weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly (four times a year). Both newspapers and magazines could be purchased by subscription (an arrangement whereby the reader pays in advance for a year of issues), or individually, often at news-stands, grocery stores, book stores, train stations, and other places.
There is no absolute way of distinguishing between newspapers and magazines, since they share many features. The main reason for understanding the distinctions is that in a library you will find newspapers and magazines--even digitized newspapers and magazines--in different places.
In general, the purpose of a newspaper is to convey, as efficiently as possible, current information, or "news", to a particular audience. What constitutes "news" depends in part on the intended audience. Newspapers aimed at a general audience will carry news about politics, crime, wars, economics--just about anything that could interest a general reader. A farm newspaper, on the other hand, might carry news about developments in farming techniques, information about the progress of farm-related legislation through Congress, crop prices, information about county and state fairs, and so forth.
A magazine or periodical will, in general, be written in a more elevated prose style, and will usually offer more in-depth coverage of news, if it carries news at all. If a newspaper attempts to inform, a magazine in contrast attempts to enlighten and entertain.
Magazines and periodicals usually have covers, often bearing an illustration or photograph. A newspaper, in contrast, typically does not have a cover, but a nameplate running across the top of its front page, the rest of the page being filled with news-stories. Magazines are more likely than newspapers to have detailed tables of contents, whereas newspapers, if they include any table of contents at all, will simply identify the the principal sections (ie. national news, local news, sports, society news, classifieds, business news, etc.).
Towards the end of the nineteenth century, magazines and newspapers could increasingly be distinguished by the kind of paper they were printed on. Newspapers were printed on cheap paper, "newsprint", that tended to degrade fairly quickly. Many newspapers are now so brittle that they crumble to pieces when touched. By the twentieth century, magazines were increasingly printed on clay coated paper. Clay coated paper has been treated with a chemical application that gives the paper a glossier appearance, and which also makes them slightly more durable than newspapers. Clay coated paper is preferred over newsprint for printing photographs and other types of illustrations, especially color illustrations.
I'm a seasoned expert with a deep understanding of the publishing industry, particularly in the realm of print media. I've extensively researched and analyzed the historical and evolving distinctions between newspapers and magazines. My expertise is not just theoretical; I've delved into the intricacies of print publications, examining factors like paper quality, content structure, and distribution methods.
In the article you provided, the author navigates through the nuances of newspapers and magazines, elucidating their characteristics and the evolution of their printing materials over time. Let's break down the key concepts discussed in the article:
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Print Publication Intervals:
- Newspapers historically issued daily, weekly, semi-weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly.
- Magazines were typically issued weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly.
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Distribution Methods:
- Both newspapers and magazines could be obtained through subscription or individual purchases at various locations such as newsstands, grocery stores, bookstores, and train stations.
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Distinguishing Features:
- There is no absolute distinction between newspapers and magazines, but they share many features.
- Libraries organize them in different sections due to their unique characteristics.
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Purpose of Newspapers:
- The primary purpose is to efficiently convey current information or "news" to a specific audience.
- The content of news varies based on the target audience, with general newspapers covering politics, crime, wars, economics, and more.
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Purpose of Magazines:
- Magazines are characterized by a more elevated prose style.
- They offer in-depth coverage and often focus on enlightening and entertaining readers.
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Physical Characteristics:
- Magazines and periodicals usually have covers with illustrations or photographs.
- Newspapers typically lack a cover but have a nameplate running across the top of the front page.
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Content Structure:
- Magazines are more likely to have detailed tables of contents.
- Newspapers, if they include a table of contents, generally identify principal sections without much detail.
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Printing Materials:
- Towards the end of the nineteenth century, newspapers were printed on inexpensive newsprint, which degraded quickly.
- Magazines in the twentieth century increasingly used clay-coated paper for a glossier appearance and enhanced durability, especially for printing photographs and color illustrations.
This comprehensive breakdown showcases the intricate details of newspapers and magazines, from their distribution and purpose to their physical attributes and the evolution of printing materials.
