How to Read a Newspaper

In order to read a newspaper, you need to understand its language and structure. You need to familiarize yourself with some important terms used in the world of journalism. Also, you need to know that most printed newspapers follow a similar format; they are divided in sections. Today, electronic versions (the ones we are linked to in this website) have tried to replicate this format. Yet, not all online versions have all the sections we typically find in the printed paper.

Glossary
Terms Definition
   
Front Page The first page of a newspaper or landing page in the website.
News Article The report on an event that has taken place.
Feature Article The report about an issue, person, event with added depth and more background details.
Byline It appears at the beginning of an article and provides the author's name.
Editor The person who decides what news will be included in each page and where it will appear according to relevance or popularity.
Editorial staff A group of people who determines content policy and creates a collective voice or view.
Editorial An article written by the editorial staff from a specific perspective. The editorial offers the newspaper's view of an issue.
Editorial cartoons Drawings that offer an opinion and convey a message about important issues in an amusing and poignant visual depiction.
Letters to the editor They are letters sent from readers to a newspaper, usually in response to an article.
World or International News News about events in other countries.
US or National News News about events in the country where the newspaper is published.
State News News about events in the state where the newspaper is published.
Local News News about events in the city and vecinity where newspaper is published.
Sports News News about events that are related to issues of sports and recreational activities.
Health News News about events that are related to issues of health or medicine.
Financial News News about events that are related to issues of finance, economy, or business.
Political News News about events that are related to national, state, and local governments, elections, political parties, etc.
Science-Technology News News about events that are related to issues of scientific research, discoveries, and inventions.
Entertainment News News about events that are related to television, radio, theater, movies, fashion, and art in general.