A broadsheet is the largest newspaper format and is characterized by long vertical pages, typically of 22.5 inches (57 cm). Other common newspaper formats include the smaller Berliner and tabloid–compact formats.[1]
Description
Many broadsheets measure roughly 28 by 22+3⁄4 in (711 by 578 mm) per full broadsheet spread, twice the size of a standard tabloid. Australian and New Zealand broadsheets always have a paper size of A1 per spread (841 by 594 mm or 33.1 by 23.4 in). South African broadsheet newspapers have a double-page spread sheet size of 820 by 578 mm (32.3 by 22.8 in) (single-page live print area of 380 x 545 mm). Others measure 22 in (560 mm) vertically.
In the United States, the traditional dimensions for the front page half of a broadsheet are 12 in (305 mm) wide by 22.75 in (578 mm) long. However, in efforts to save newsprint costs, many U.S. newspapers[2] have downsized to 11 in (279 mm) wide by 21 in (533 mm) long for a folded page.[3][4]
Many rate cards and specification cards refer to the "broadsheet size" with dimensions representing the front page "half of a broadsheet" size, rather than the full, unfolded broadsheet spread. Some quote actual page size and others quote the "printed area" size.
The two versions of the broadsheet are:
- The full broadsheet typically is folded vertically in half so that it forms four pages (the front page front and back and the back page front and back). The four pages are called a spread. Inside broadsheets are nested accordingly.
- The half broadsheet is usually an inside page that is not folded vertically and just includes a front and back.
History
The broadsheet, broadside, was used as a format for musical and popular prints in the 17th century. Eventually, people began using the broadsheet as a source for political activism by reprinting speeches.
Broadsheet newspapers developed in Britain after a 1712 tax was imposed on newspapers based on their page counts. However, larger formats had long been signs of status in printed objects and still are in many places. Outside of Britain the broadsheet developed for other reasons unrelated to the British tax structure including style and authority. With the early mechanization of the 19th century came an increased production of printed materials including the broadside, as well as the competing penny dreadful. Newspapers all over Europe were then starting to print their issues on broadsheets. However, in the United Kingdom, the main competition for the broadside was the gradual reduction of the newspaper tax, beginning in the 1830s until its eventual dismissal in 1855.[5]
With the increased production of newspapers and literacy, the demand for visual reporting and journalists led to the blending of broadsides and newspapers, creating the modern broadsheet newspaper.
Printing considerations
Modern printing facilities most efficiently print broadsheet sections in multiples of eight pages (with four front pages and four back pages). The broadsheet is then cut in half during the process. Thus, the newsprint rolls used are defined by the width necessary to print four front pages. The width of a newsprint roll is called its web. The now-common 11-inch-wide front page broadsheet newspapers in the United States use a 44-inch web newsprint roll.
With profit margins narrowing for newspapers in the wake of competition from broadcast, cable television, and the internet, newspapers are looking to standardize the size of the newsprint roll. The Wall Street Journal with its 12-in-wide front page was printed on 48-inch web newsprint. Early adopters in the downsizing of broadsheets used a 50-inch web (12+1⁄2-inch front pages). However, the 48-inch web is now rapidly becoming the definitive standard in the U.S. The New York Times held out on the downsizing until July 2006, saying it would stick to its 54-inch web (13+1⁄2-inch front page).[citation needed] However, the paper adopted the narrower format beginning Monday, 6 August 2007.
The smaller newspapers also have the advantage of being easier to handle, particularly among commuters.
Connotations
In some countries, especially Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US, broadsheet newspapers are commonly perceived to be more intellectual in content than their tabloid counterparts. They tend to use their greater size to publish stories exploring topics in-depth and carry less sensationalist and celebrity-oriented material.[6] The distinction is most obvious on the front page since tabloids tend to have a single story dominated by a headline, and broadsheets allow two or more stories to be displayed of which the most important sit at the top of the page "above the fold."
A few newspapers, though, such as the German Bild-Zeitung and others throughout Central Europe are tabloids in terms of content but use the physical broadsheet format.
Switch to smaller sizes
In the United Kingdom
In 2003, The Independent started concurrent production of both broadsheet and tabloid ("compact") editions, carrying exactly the same content. The Times did likewise, but with less apparent success, with readers vocally opposing the change. The Independent ceased to be available in broadsheet format in May 2004, and The Times followed suit from November 2004; The Scotsman is also now published only in tabloid format. The Guardian switched to the "Berliner" or "midi" format found in some other European countries (slightly larger than a traditional tabloid) on 12 September 2005. In June 2017, the Guardian announced it would again change the format to tabloid size – the first tabloid edition was published on 15 January 2018.
The main motivation cited for this shift was that commuters prefer papers that they can hold easily on public transport and that other readers also might find the smaller formats more convenient.
In the United States
In the United States, The Wall Street Journal made headlines when it announced its overseas version would convert to a tabloid on 17 October 2005.[7] Strong debate occurred in the US on whether or not the rest of the national papers will or even should follow the trend of the European papers and The Wall Street Journal.[8] The Wall Street Journal overseas edition switched back to a broadsheet format in 2015.[9][10]
Notable broadsheets
Argentina
Australia
- The Australian, a national newspaper
- The Age, was historically a broadsheet before more recently becoming a tabloid.
Bangladesh
Most Bangladeshi daily newspapers are broadsheets.
- The Daily Star, a broadsheet English-language daily
- The Bangladesh Observer, oldest continuously published English-language daily
- Daily Naya Diganta, a broadsheet Bengali-language daily
- The Daily Ittefaq, oldest and most circulated newspaper
- New Age
- The Independent
Brazil
Most Brazilian newspapers are broadsheets, including the three most important:
Canada
Almost all of Canada's major daily newspapers are broadsheets.[12] Newspapers are in English, unless stated otherwise.
National
- The Globe and Mail
- The National Post
- Le Devoir (French)
Atlantic Canada
Quebec
Ontario
- The Hamilton Spectator
- The Kingston Whig-Standard
- The London Free Press
- The Ottawa Citizen
- The Pembroke Daily Observer
- The Peterborough Examiner
- The St. Catharines Standard
- The Sudbury Star
- The Chronicle-Journal
- The Toronto Star
- The Waterloo Region Record, Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge
- The Windsor Star
Prairies
British Columbia
Chile
China
Colombia
- El Tiempo
- El Espectador (switched to tabloid in 2008[13])
- El Colombiano (switched to tabloid in 2012[13])
- El Pais
Denmark
- Jyllands-Posten (switched to tabloid in 2008)
- Politiken[14]
- Weekendavisen
- Kristeligt Dagblad
Dominican Republic
- Listín Diario
- Hoy
- La Información, Santiago de los Caballeros
Ecuador
Finland
France
- L'Équipe (formerly)
Germany
Broadsheet is not common. National daily newspapers as Die Zeit, Die Welt, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and Bild use Nordisch Format with 570 mm × 400 mm (22 in × 16 in) (1.425 aspect ratio).
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
India
Almost all major newspapers in India are broadsheets. Tabloids are mostly found in small-circulation local or rural papers.
- Law Sapient
- Amar Ujala
- Anandabazar Patrika
- Eenadu
- Aajkaal
- Bartaman
- DNA
- Deccan Chronicle
- Deccan Herald
- Dinamalar
- Dinathanthi
- Dainik Jagran
- Dainik Bhaskar
- Ei Samay
- Ekdin
- Ganashakti
- Hindustan
- Hosa Digantha
- Kannada Prabha
- Lokmat
- Prajavani
- Pudhari
- Sakshi
- Sakal
- Saamana
- Samyuktha Karnataka
- Sangbad Pratidin
- State Times
- Sudharma
- The Financial Express
- The Indian Express
- The Economic Times
- The Hindustan Times
- The Hindu
- The Hitavada
- The New Indian Express
- The Statesman
- The Telegraph
- The Times of India
- Dainik Navajyoti
- Malayala Manorama
- Mathrubhumi
- Varthabharathi
- Imphal Free Press
- Udayavani
- Vijaya Karnataka
- Vijaya Vani
- Vishwavani
- Deepika
Indonesia
Ireland
- Business Post
- Irish Examiner
- Irish Independent (Business, Motors, Property supplements only; the rest switched to tabloid in December 2012, though Sport On Saturday was published as a broadsheet between 29 August 2015 and 23 November 2019)
- The Irish Times
- Sunday Independent
Israel
Italy
Japan
- The Japan Times (English)
Almost all major papers in Japan are Blanket (54.6 cm x 40.65 cm), not Broadsheet.[15]
Below major newspapers are printed on Blanket.
Lebanon
Libya
Malaysia
Newspapers such as New Straits Times and Berita Harian used to be published in broadsheet, but were published in the smaller size, instead, from 2005 and 2008, respectively. However, almost all Chinese newspapers in the country continue to publish in broadsheet.
Mauritius
Mexico
New Zealand
- The New Zealand Herald, Auckland. Only the Saturday edition is broadsheet, the weekday editions switched to compact in September 2012.[16]
- Waikato Times, Hamilton. Only the Saturday edition is broadsheet, the weekday editions switched to compact in April 2018.[17]
- The Dominion Post, Wellington. Only the Saturday edition is broadsheet, the weekday editions switched to compact in April 2018.[17]
- The Press, Christchurch. Only the Saturday edition is broadsheet, the weekday editions switched to compact in April 2018.[17]
- Otago Daily Times, Dunedin
- Taranaki Daily News, New Plymouth. Only the Saturday edition is broadsheet, the weekday editions switched to compact in April 2018.[17]
- The Southland Times, Invercargill. Only the Saturday edition is broadsheet, the weekday editions switched to compact in April 2018.[17]
Pakistan
All Pakistan regional and national newspapers are broadsheets. Pakistan Today is the first and only paper in Berliner format.
Panama
Formerly:*La Estrella de Panamá (Tabloid)
Peru
Philippines
Poland
All of Poland's quality national dailies (Gazeta Wyborcza, Rzeczpospolita, Nasz Dziennik, and Dziennik Polska-Europa-Świat) are now published in compact format.
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Romania
Russia
Serbia
Singapore
Sri Lanka
South Africa
Spain
All newspapers in Spain are printed in compact format.
Sweden
The first major Swedish newspaper to leave the broadsheet format and start printing in tabloid format was Svenska Dagbladet, on 16 November 2000. As of August 2004, 26 newspapers were broadsheets, with a combined circulation of 1,577,700 and 50 newspapers were in a tabloid with a combined circulation of 1,129,400. On 5 October 2004, the morning newspapers Göteborgs-Posten, Dagens Nyheter, Sydsvenskan, and Östersunds-Posten all switched to tabloid, thus making it the leading format for morning newspapers in Sweden by volume of circulation. Most other broadsheet newspapers have followed, since. The last daily Swedish newspaper to switch to tabloid was Jönköpings-Posten, 6 November 2013.[19]
Thailand
- Thairath (Thai: ไทยรัฐ)
- The Bangkok Post
Turkey
Most of the newspapers in Turkey are printed on this format. Notable ones include:
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
UK wide
- The Daily Telegraph (The Sunday Telegraph)
- The Financial Times (Monday to Saturday only)
- The Sunday Times
England
Scotland
United States
Almost all major papers in the United States are broadsheets.
- Albuquerque Journal
- The Arizona Republic
- Arizona Daily Star
- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- The Bakersfield Californian
- The Baltimore Sun
- The Birmingham News
- The Boston Globe
- The Buffalo News
- The Charlotte Observer
- Chattanooga Times Free Press
- Chicago Tribune
- The Courier Journal
- The Dallas Morning News
- The Democrat and Chronicle
- The Denver Post
- Detroit Free Press
- The Florida Times-Union
- The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead
- The Fresno Bee
- The Grand Rapids Press
- Houston Chronicle
- The Indianapolis Star
- The Inquirer and Mirror
- The Kansas City Star
- Las Vegas Review-Journal
- Lincoln Journal Star
- Los Angeles Daily News
- Los Angeles Times
- The Mercury News
- The Miami Herald
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
- New Hampshire Union Leader
- New York Law Journal
- The New York Times
- The Oklahoman
- Omaha World-Herald
- The Orange County Register
- Orlando Sentinel
- The Philadelphia Inquirer
- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- The Plain Dealer
- Portland Press Herald
- Press-Telegram
- The Providence Journal
- The Riverdale Press
- The Seattle Times
- The Salt Lake Tribune
- San Antonio Express-News
- The San Bernardino Sun
- San Francisco Chronicle
- Santa Fe New Mexican
- Star Tribune
- The Star-Ledger
- The Sun
- Tampa Bay Times
- The Tampa Tribune
- The Times-Picayune
- The Times-Tribune
- U-T San Diego
- USA Today
- Vineyard Gazette
- The Wall Street Journal
- The Washington Post
- The Washington Times
- The Wichita Eagle
- The Zephyrhills News
Vatican City
See also
References
- ^ "Newspaper Sizes - Broadsheet, Berliner, Tabloid & Compact". www.papersizes.org. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
- ^ Roy Peter (17 February 2006). "Watch Out, Broadsheet: Tabloid Power Is Gonna Get Your Mama". Poynter Institute. Archived from the original on 16 February 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
- ^ Seelye, Katharine Q. (4 December 2006). "In Tough Times, a Redesigned Journal". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 6 April 2008. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
- ^ "The New York Times Plans to Consolidate New York Print Run at Newest Facility in College Point, Queens and Sublease Older Edison, New Jersey, Printing Plant in Early 2008" (Press release). The New York Times Company. 18 July 2006. Archived from the original on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
- ^ "The Word on the Street – Background". National Library of Scotland. Archived from the original on 5 February 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
- ^ Rogers, Tony (28 January 2020). "Differences Between Broadsheet and Tabloid Newspapers". ThoughtCo. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ Milt Freudenheim (9 May 2005). "Abroad, The Wall Street Journal Will Be a Tabloid". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
- ^ "For American Publishers, Broadsheets Are Bright Stars Archived 24 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine. News & Tech.
- ^ Sweney, Mark (11 June 2015). "Wall Street Journal to revamp European and Asian editions in broadsheet format". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
- ^ "Wall Street Journal Europe to print 50 per cent more content as it switches back to broadsheet". Press Gazette. Archived from the original on 27 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
- ^ "La Nación, con un nuevo formato: la edición impresa ahora es un compacto" Archived 13 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Diario La Nación, 30 October 2016
- ^ "Every Daily Newspaper in Canada". Fishwrap.ca. Archived from the original on 27 May 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
- ^ a b "El tabloide: el futuro de los periódicos impresos o la evolución de la prensa en el mundo". Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
- ^ Tina Gudrun Jensen; Sara Jul Jacobsen; Kathrine Vitus; Kristina Weibel (March 2012). "Analysis of Danish Media setting and framing of Muslims, Islam and racism" (Working paper). Danish National Centre for Social Research. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
- ^ "新聞紙のサイズ". Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ "New look Herald smaller and bigger". The New Zealand Herald. 9 July 2012. Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "You're not going crazy – your local paper has shrunk in size". Stuff. 30 April 2018. Archived from the original on 27 May 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
- ^ "Newspaper Sizes". Paper Sizes. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
- ^ [unreliable source?] Boström, Svenåke (10 November 2004). "Mindpark #049: Tabloidtisdagen" (in Swedish). Mindpark. Archived from the original on 7 May 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2012.