Business news is any news concerning the commercial or economic sectors of a country or region. It may also refer to the activities of businesses as a whole and how they are affected by political and social changes. Business news is typically covered in regional and national newspapers, business magazines and on radio and television news programs. In addition, online news sites, blogs and news aggregators provide extensive coverage of business-related topics.
The term “business” is used to describe any type of organization that exchanges goods or services for money in order to earn a profit. Businesses are typically private, but some organizations are governed by public authorities and are known as not-for-profit corporations. In addition to earning profits, businesses often contribute to economic growth through taxation and employment opportunities.
For individuals, business news can be of great interest as it can affect their financial portfolios and investments. As such, it is important to follow the latest business news in order to stay up to date with corporate reporting, mergers and acquisitions and new investments.
Likewise, businesses themselves can be the subject of news coverage when they are involved in scandals or other events that may impact the financial world. For example, major companies are frequently in the spotlight for their environmental and social policies as well as their success or failure in the marketplace.
In the early part of the 20th century, business journalism began to gain popularity with the emergence of the Wall Street Journal and other newspapers dedicated to covering business-related matters. Muckraking journalists, such as Ida Tarbell, are widely credited for popularizing the genre of business news.
Today, most major newspapers feature a section of their paper dedicated to business news. It is a very active field of journalism and one that continues to grow as more people invest in the stock market and as globalization brings more opportunity for entrepreneurs to find success in new industries.
While some may blame the bad press that business news receives on personal greed or an insufficient level of scrutiny of corporate affairs, few, if any, business leaders can be accused of deliberately defrauding their investors or the general public. Rather, the most common complaint against business is that of a lack of focus on sustainable practices or an insensitivity to consumer demands.
The Library of Congress offers many resources to those interested in business news, including an extensive collection of print and microform newspaper titles. For more information on finding specific publications or for help with your research, feel free to Ask-A-Librarian or visit a reference desk in the library.