Weekly newspaper
Encyclopedia
A weekly newspaper is a general-news publication that is published on newsprint
once or twice a week.
Such newspapers tend to have smaller circulations than daily newspapers, and are usually based in less-populous communities or small, defined areas within large cities; often, they may cover a smaller territory, such as one or more smaller towns or an entire county. Frequently, weeklies cover local news
and engage in community journalism
.
Most weekly newspapers follow a similar format as daily newspapers (i.e., news, sports, obituaries
, etc.). However, the primary focus is on news within a coverage area. The publication date of weekly newspapers in North America
vary, but often they come out in the middle of the week (Wednesday or Thursday). However, in the United Kingdom
where they come out on Sundays, the weeklies are called Sunday newspapers, have substantial populations, and are often national in scope.
Other types of news publications come out weekly on newsprint but are not considered general newspapers. These cover specific topics, such as sports (e.g., The Sporting News
) or business (e.g., Barron's), and have larger circulations and cover much-larger geographic-coverage areas.
s or house fires, plus local government meetings, such as city councils or school boards, and police blotters.
), communities, or professional teams if any exist. Often, a sports reporter takes great ownership in a specific team and writes stories containing detailed accounts of games; several photographs of the game may accompany the story. Other stories preview games, usually between traditional rivals, to build interest.
.
In the past, correspondents often submitted stories along the lines of "Mr. and Mrs. John Jones had company from out-of-town last week," although these types of stories – commonly called "Neighborhood News" or some similar name – are largely a thing of the past.
, written by readers on a specific topic.
Laws in many U.S. states dictate that a municipality
or other government body must designate an official newspaper. The official newspaper is decided based on geographical area, and often more than one newspapers are given this designation. Official newspapers receive the government's public notices, and since they are considered advertising, it can be a source of revenue for newspapers.
sales representatives whose job it is to sell display advertisements. Most advertisements are from local businesses (although some larger companies from outside the coverage area may advertise).
Other advertisements are called classifieds
, which are placed by people who want to buy or sell something (such as a car or real estate), employers who have job openings, or property owners who have rental property available.
Along with paid subscriptions, a weekly newspaper receives most of its revenue from display advertising
and classified advertising
.
Like larger newspapers, most weekly newspapers these days are paginated
(or laid out) using computer software, using programs such as Adobe PageMaker
, Adobe InDesign
or Quark Xpress. Layout is the appearance of the page and includes photographs (along with cutlines, or captions identifying the photograph's content and people), copy (the text and its typefont), headlines and white space.
At many newspapers, photographers, reporters and editors use digital camera
s to take photographs and download selected photographs using a card reader. The photographs are cropped and edited using a program such as Adobe Photoshop
.
After the copy and advertisements have been placed on the page, the editor will print out a proof and make any changes, if necessary; sometimes, he/she will consult with reporters on such things as double-checking facts, proofreading headlines and other copy, or writing cutlines for photographs. Once everyone is satisfied, a final proof is printed out and prepared for publication. The pages can either be placed on dummy sheets, burned to a CD-ROM
or Zip disk, or sent to the printing press (either located at the newspaper office or an off-site publication plant) by e-mail
or ftp site.
The size of the news staff varies, depending on the size of the newspaper and its circulation area. Some papers have a staff of several reporters, with each reporter having a specific beat (much like a daily newspaper, with beats including schools, local government, business, police, etc.). Many smaller newspapers, however, may have as few as one reporter to cover the entire circulation area, meaning they are responsible for the entire content of the newspaper (e.g., government, business, schools, crime, features, etc.).
The experience of weekly newspaper reporters varies. Some may have years of experience (either they are satisfied where they are employed, and/or may be well-established in the community); others may be recent college graduates early in their career, and are trying to gain experience and/or clips.
Many newspapers have at least one news clerk or editorial assistant who is responsible for typing family news and obituaries
, as well as news releases announcing upcoming events. A circulation manager keeps track of subscribers (this can range from only a couple hundred to tens of thousands of subscribers), and may also be in charge of classified advertising
.
As well as full-time staff reporters and photographers, many weekly newspapers also employ correspondent
s (sometimes called stringers), often paid on a per-story rate.
The chain newspapers can either be regional or national chains. Sometimes all advertising functions are combined, with a weekly newspaper containing both ads for local businesses and for businesses in the chains area. This larger circulation can assist in bringing in national advertising to weeklies. Weeklies in chains may also have a publisher overseeing several newspapers, with a specific editor for each newspaper.
Newsprint
Newsprint is a low-cost, non-archival paper most commonly used to print newspapers, and other publications and advertising material. It usually has an off-white cast and distinctive feel. It is designed for use in printing presses that employ a long web of paper rather than individual sheets of...
once or twice a week.
Such newspapers tend to have smaller circulations than daily newspapers, and are usually based in less-populous communities or small, defined areas within large cities; often, they may cover a smaller territory, such as one or more smaller towns or an entire county. Frequently, weeklies cover local news
Local news
In journalism, local news refers to news coverage of events in a local context which would not normally be of interest to those of other localities, or otherwise be of national or international scope.-Television:...
and engage in community journalism
Community journalism
Community journalism is locally oriented, professional news coverage that typically focuses on city neighborhoods, individual suburbs or small towns, rather than metropolitan, state, national or world news....
.
Most weekly newspapers follow a similar format as daily newspapers (i.e., news, sports, obituaries
Obituary
An obituary is a news article that reports the recent death of a person, typically along with an account of the person's life and information about the upcoming funeral. In large cities and larger newspapers, obituaries are written only for people considered significant...
, etc.). However, the primary focus is on news within a coverage area. The publication date of weekly newspapers in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
vary, but often they come out in the middle of the week (Wednesday or Thursday). However, in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
where they come out on Sundays, the weeklies are called Sunday newspapers, have substantial populations, and are often national in scope.
Other types of news publications come out weekly on newsprint but are not considered general newspapers. These cover specific topics, such as sports (e.g., The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
) or business (e.g., Barron's), and have larger circulations and cover much-larger geographic-coverage areas.
News
News coverage usually focuses on local events such as car accidentCar accident
A traffic collision, also known as a traffic accident, motor vehicle collision, motor vehicle accident, car accident, automobile accident, Road Traffic Collision or car crash, occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other stationary obstruction,...
s or house fires, plus local government meetings, such as city councils or school boards, and police blotters.
Sports
A weekly newspaper often covers sports teams from one or more area schools (mostly high schoolsSecondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
), communities, or professional teams if any exist. Often, a sports reporter takes great ownership in a specific team and writes stories containing detailed accounts of games; several photographs of the game may accompany the story. Other stories preview games, usually between traditional rivals, to build interest.
Family news and obituaries
Family news pages include announcements of births, engagements, weddings, landmark birthdays and anniversaries, and obituariesObituary
An obituary is a news article that reports the recent death of a person, typically along with an account of the person's life and information about the upcoming funeral. In large cities and larger newspapers, obituaries are written only for people considered significant...
.
In the past, correspondents often submitted stories along the lines of "Mr. and Mrs. John Jones had company from out-of-town last week," although these types of stories – commonly called "Neighborhood News" or some similar name – are largely a thing of the past.
Features and reviews
Larger weeklies, especially those that are part of chains, also offer lifestyle features, reviews of local theater and arts, restaurant reviews and a food section that may concentrate on local recipes.Editorial pages
Like daily newspapers, weekly newspapers often have an editorial page. Editorial pages also include letters to the editorLetter to the editor
A letter to the editor is a letter sent to a publication about issues of concern from its readers. Usually, letters are intended for publication...
, written by readers on a specific topic.
Public record
The public-record section usually includes summaries of police-incident reports, fire-department calls and court dispositions (or, the outcome of a criminal proceeding). Many newspapers also publish a list of building permits that have been issued in its circulation area.Public notices
Public notices typically fall into one of two categories:- Notices about hearings, advertisements for bids, financial reports, adoption of ordinances, planning applications, and other government activities which local governments are required to notify the public.
- Notices by the court system and/or law-enforcement agencies. These can include such things as lawsuits, divorce settlements and foreclosures/property repossession.
Laws in many U.S. states dictate that a municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
or other government body must designate an official newspaper. The official newspaper is decided based on geographical area, and often more than one newspapers are given this designation. Official newspapers receive the government's public notices, and since they are considered advertising, it can be a source of revenue for newspapers.
Advertising
Weekly newspapers often have one or more advertisingAdvertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
sales representatives whose job it is to sell display advertisements. Most advertisements are from local businesses (although some larger companies from outside the coverage area may advertise).
Other advertisements are called classifieds
Classified advertising
Classified advertising is a form of advertising which is particularly common in newspapers, online and other periodicals which may be sold or distributed free of charge...
, which are placed by people who want to buy or sell something (such as a car or real estate), employers who have job openings, or property owners who have rental property available.
Along with paid subscriptions, a weekly newspaper receives most of its revenue from display advertising
Newspaper display advertising
Newspaper display advertising is a form of newspaper advertisement - where the advertisement appears alongside regular editorial content. Display ads are generally used by businesses and corporations towards promotion of their goods and services and are generally for larger budget clients.Newspaper...
and classified advertising
Classified advertising
Classified advertising is a form of advertising which is particularly common in newspapers, online and other periodicals which may be sold or distributed free of charge...
.
Laying out the newspaper
Most weekly newspapers are laid out one or more days before the publication date. Sometimes, the layout of pages is staggered, to allow for multiple deadlines.Like larger newspapers, most weekly newspapers these days are paginated
Pagination
Pagination is the process of dividing information into discrete pages, either electronic pages or printed pages. Today the latter are usually simply instances of the former that have been outputted to a printing device, such as a desktop printer or a modern printing press...
(or laid out) using computer software, using programs such as Adobe PageMaker
Adobe PageMaker
PageMaker was one of the first desktop publishing programs, introduced in 1985 by Aldus Corporation, initially for the then-new Apple Macintosh and in 1987 for PCs running Windows 1.0....
, Adobe InDesign
Adobe InDesign
Adobe InDesign is a software application produced by Adobe Systems. It can be used to create works such as posters, flyers, brochures, magazines, newspapers and books. In conjunction with Adobe Digital Publishing Suite InDesign can publish content suitable for tablet devices...
or Quark Xpress. Layout is the appearance of the page and includes photographs (along with cutlines, or captions identifying the photograph's content and people), copy (the text and its typefont), headlines and white space.
At many newspapers, photographers, reporters and editors use digital camera
Digital camera
A digital camera is a camera that takes video or still photographs, or both, digitally by recording images via an electronic image sensor. It is the main device used in the field of digital photography...
s to take photographs and download selected photographs using a card reader. The photographs are cropped and edited using a program such as Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is a graphics editing program developed and published by Adobe Systems Incorporated.Adobe's 2003 "Creative Suite" rebranding led to Adobe Photoshop 8's renaming to Adobe Photoshop CS. Thus, Adobe Photoshop CS5 is the 12th major release of Adobe Photoshop...
.
After the copy and advertisements have been placed on the page, the editor will print out a proof and make any changes, if necessary; sometimes, he/she will consult with reporters on such things as double-checking facts, proofreading headlines and other copy, or writing cutlines for photographs. Once everyone is satisfied, a final proof is printed out and prepared for publication. The pages can either be placed on dummy sheets, burned to a CD-ROM
CD-ROM
A CD-ROM is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback. The 1985 “Yellow Book” standard developed by Sony and Philips adapted the format to hold any form of binary data....
or Zip disk, or sent to the printing press (either located at the newspaper office or an off-site publication plant) by e-mail
E-mail
Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...
or ftp site.
Staff
Often, the staff of a weekly newspaper is smaller, with employees having several duties. For instance, a news editor may also sell advertising, while reporters could also be photographers.The size of the news staff varies, depending on the size of the newspaper and its circulation area. Some papers have a staff of several reporters, with each reporter having a specific beat (much like a daily newspaper, with beats including schools, local government, business, police, etc.). Many smaller newspapers, however, may have as few as one reporter to cover the entire circulation area, meaning they are responsible for the entire content of the newspaper (e.g., government, business, schools, crime, features, etc.).
The experience of weekly newspaper reporters varies. Some may have years of experience (either they are satisfied where they are employed, and/or may be well-established in the community); others may be recent college graduates early in their career, and are trying to gain experience and/or clips.
Many newspapers have at least one news clerk or editorial assistant who is responsible for typing family news and obituaries
Obituary
An obituary is a news article that reports the recent death of a person, typically along with an account of the person's life and information about the upcoming funeral. In large cities and larger newspapers, obituaries are written only for people considered significant...
, as well as news releases announcing upcoming events. A circulation manager keeps track of subscribers (this can range from only a couple hundred to tens of thousands of subscribers), and may also be in charge of classified advertising
Classified advertising
Classified advertising is a form of advertising which is particularly common in newspapers, online and other periodicals which may be sold or distributed free of charge...
.
As well as full-time staff reporters and photographers, many weekly newspapers also employ correspondent
Correspondent
A correspondent or on-the-scene reporter is a journalist or commentator, or more general speaking, an agent who contributes reports to a newspaper, or radio or television news, or another type of company, from a remote, often distant, location. A foreign correspondent is stationed in a foreign...
s (sometimes called stringers), often paid on a per-story rate.
Family-owned and chains
Many weekly newspapers started as family-owned businesses, covering one or two communities and handling all editorial and business functions. Typically all business functions, along with the editor-in-chief would be family members, while non family members would assume reporting positions. As newspapers became more expensive to operate and family member declined to join the business, many weekly newspapers were purchased by larger chains of weeklies. Some family owned newspapers are operated as chains, with the family business operating weekly newspapers in multiple towns.The chain newspapers can either be regional or national chains. Sometimes all advertising functions are combined, with a weekly newspaper containing both ads for local businesses and for businesses in the chains area. This larger circulation can assist in bringing in national advertising to weeklies. Weeklies in chains may also have a publisher overseeing several newspapers, with a specific editor for each newspaper.
See also
- Alternative weeklyAlternative weeklyAn alternative newspaper is a type of newspaper, that eschews comprehensive coverage of general news in favor of stylized reporting, opinionated reviews and columns, investigations into edgy topics and magazine-style feature stories highlighting local people and culture. Their news coverage is more...
- Community journalismCommunity journalismCommunity journalism is locally oriented, professional news coverage that typically focuses on city neighborhoods, individual suburbs or small towns, rather than metropolitan, state, national or world news....
- JournalismJournalismJournalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
- Mass mediaMass mediaMass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
- NewspaperNewspaperA newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...