Definition/Description Challenges

⮚Definition

According to CONSER, newspapers are distinguishable from other serial publications in that they (1) contain news on current events of special or general interests, (2) are normally issued daily or weekly, (3) appear with a masthead rather than a cover, and (4) are usually 12x17 inches in size.

 Although rare, there are newspaper publications that are issued monthly, are smaller in size and may even contain a cover (19^th century newspapers). For this reason, when deciding whether to threat a serial as a newspaper, CONSER instructs the cataloger to treat the serial as a periodical and not as a  newspaper if neither of the following is not discernible.

All general interest newspapers mainly reporting events that have occurred within the 24- hour period before going to press.

Non-daily general interest newspapers (that is, local and neighborhood newspapers) that provide news covering a longer period of time and also serve their readers as a primary source of general information due to their local origin.

Newspapers that contain current news of special interest, in addition to general information, aimed at clearly identifiable groups. Some common types of special interest newspapers include those directed at ethnic or racial groups, labor unions, the farming community, religious groups, and political groups.

 According to CONSER, the following publications should not be treated as newspapers:

 Newsletter publications in newspaper format intended to report only news of a particular organization or institution or that are specifically limited to coverage of a business, industry, craft, market, etc . 

 Shoppers and other publications issued primarily for advertising purposes.

⮚Description Challenges