A daily newspaper is a publication that contains news and opinions about current events, a particular region or society. It typically consists of an array of articles, often arranged in sections. The most common sections are news, feature, editorial, opinion, and sports. Newspapers may be published daily or weekly. They can also be found online, though this is less common. Some newspapers have been able to find new markets for their content by creating electronic editions, such as the internet-based Seattle Post-Intelligencer and London Times.

The person who selects the contents of a newspaper is known as the editor. This title is often abbreviated to a senior position, such as editor-in-chief or executive editor. Depending on the size of the newspaper, editors may be responsible for specific subject areas such as national, regional, or local news. At large publications, the most senior editor is often in overall charge, while other editors oversee specific sections.

Newspapers are a major source of information on the world and local affairs. They report on government activities, crime, and natural disasters; business and industry; education, science, and technology; and social and cultural issues. The most popular news topics include politics, celebrities, and economics; sports, especially those of professional and amateur competitors; and the arts.

In early modern Europe, the increased flow of international trade and political activity created a demand for fast and reliable news. This was met by concise handwritten news-sheets, such as the notizie scritte of 1556, which cost a guinea (a small coin). Some of these later evolved into printed avvisi, a form that shares some of the characteristics of traditional newspapers but is usually not considered to be one.

The first printed newspapers were often a single page, printed on both sides and containing short news stories. More recent newspapers are typically more complex, with many different sections. Almost all newspapers contain a section for classified ads and a section for comics or cartoons. Some have a section for the weather and a travel guide.

Most of the information in a newspaper is collected by journalists, who are often called reporters or staffers. Some journalists cover a particular area, such as the weather or sports, while others write longer, more in-depth articles about particular topics, or what are often referred to as features. Many newspapers also have photographers and graphic artists to supply images and illustrations. The opinions of columnists and guest writers are often expressed in opinion articles, or op-eds, that appear in the op-ed section.

Most of today’s newspapers are published in both print and digital formats. While the majority of people still read them in print, a growing number use digital devices such as mobile phones and computers to read them. In addition, a few newspapers have stopped printing entirely, or at least publish only in digital form. Despite these trends, newspaper industry experts have said that the medium of the newspaper is not likely to disappear completely.