Newspapers have a different types of articles, each with its own purposes. See each type listed below on the left for more information.
Purpose:
To highlight the most important news of the day as determined by the editors.
How to Find:
Search for keywords related to the topic and look for a document type limit: Front Page. See also the Freedom Forum's collection of Today's Front Pages.
Purpose:
To give opinions on current issues and events, written by the editorial board.
How to Find:
In print newspapers, editorials tend to appear in the first section of the newspaper. To find editorials in library databases, use the advanced search and look for "Editorial" as a document or article type limit or look for the limit after doing a search.
Purpose:
To discuss and provide arguments on issues of relevance to the readers of the newspaper, written by named authors not associated with the newspaper's editorial board.
How to Find:
In print newspapers, these articles are usually on the page opposite the editorial page (op-ed). In online databases, search for keywords related to the topic and look for document type limit: Commentary.
Purpose:
To provide reactions from readers to the content of the newspaper.
How to find:
In print newspapers, letters to the editor appear on the editorial and op-ed pages. In online databases, search for keywords related to the topic and look for document type limit: Letters.
Purpose:
To summarize and give commentary on books, films, and performances.
How to Find:
Search for the title of the book, play, dance, film, etc. and limit to around the date it was released/performed. Databases often have a "review" limit, however, often times in the ProQuest Historical databases, reviews are coded as "article."
See also the following guides:
Purpose:
To reflect on the life of a recently deceased person.
How to Find:
Search for the person's name and limit to publication date around time of the person's death. Some databases have a document type limit: Obituary. For very famous people, their death announcement may be an article on the front page rather than in the obituary section, and thus will be coded in the database as "front page" instead of "obituary."
Purpose:
To promote products for sale.
How to Find:
Search for keywords related to the topic and look for document type limit: Advertisement or Display Ad.
Purpose:
To present offers and requests from the newspaper's readers.
How to Find:
Search for keywords related to the offer/request and look for document type limit: Advertisement or Classified ad.
Other ways to get help:
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