Founded in 1878, the Yale Daily News is the oldest college newspaper in the United States and the primary source of news and debate on campus. It is edited and written entirely by Yale students. It publishes Monday through Friday while classes are in session, and distributes free to students on campus and in the surrounding community. The paper covers academic, social and political issues affecting Yale and its communities, including the New Haven area. The newspaper also publishes several special issues each year in collaboration with the university’s cultural centers and affiliated student groups.
Most newspapers cover general topics, such as politics and government; national and international news; business and economics; crime, weather, and natural disasters; and sports. In addition to news and features, some newspapers also carry editorials and commentary. Most newspapers are published at regular intervals, typically daily or weekly; some are biweekly, monthly, or quarterly. Despite the proliferation of other media, newspapers continue to have a major influence on the public’s view of the world. Their market penetration in the 1920s reached 123 percent. As more and more people shifted to other sources of news, however, their market share began to decline.
In the 1980s, the decline was accelerated by a series of major strikes and terrorist attacks. By the 1990s, circulation had slipped below 50 percent. Since then, it has recovered somewhat, but the industry continues to struggle. Some major newspapers have been discontinued, while others have been forced to reduce their size and frequency.
While many readers still subscribe to newspapers, others have moved away from traditional print media in favor of online news and other electronic forms of information. This trend has contributed to the declining market share of newspapers, which is now about 53 percent. The decline of print journalism has been partially attributed to the growth of other media, such as radio and television, but it also stems from reduced readership and advertising revenue as well as changes in consumer tastes.
Aside from their role in providing in-depth news and commentary, newspapers often serve as an important source of entertainment for their readers. Most newspapers feature a range of entertainment coverage, from reviews of the latest movies and music releases to previews of upcoming concerts and theatrical productions. Some newspapers, such as the Chicago Tribune, have specialized sections dedicated to entertainment and recreation.
While previous research has shown that exposure to negative news can make people feel bad, little is known about the direct effects of daily, everyday news perceptions on affective state. This study examined this question using ecological momentary assessment (EMA), with 63 participants reporting their news and affective states five times a day for 10 days. Results showed that negative affect was associated with daily news perceptions, and this association was moderated by personal relevance and personality factors such as neuroticism and extraversion. In addition, negative affect was significantly higher for women than for men. These findings indicate that everyday news exposure is negatively related to affective state, and that this effect is stronger for women than for men.