Business news is a type of news reporting that focuses on the daily, weekly, and monthly activities of companies that are involved in producing goods and services. Businesses can be categorized as service, manufacturing, or retail; and they can range from a small-scale operation with a few employees to massive corporations with hundreds of workers.
Historically, business journalism has been primarily a part of local newspapers, although national business newspapers and periodicals also now appear. Most of the major newspaper chains still maintain substantial business sections in their daily editions, and a few, like the Wall Street Journal, offer special business pages that focus on topics of interest and controversy.
The scope of the business press has expanded significantly since the mid-1990s when the Internet opened a new channel for business news distribution and provided a new locus of competition among traditional business publishers and technology-savvy Internet publishers. It also has broadened the audience for business news by reaching out to people who may not be familiar with business publications or who may have little formal education in the field.
Most of the general mass media have a separate business section, which features news about the larger businesses in the area. This section often covers company events and governmental regulation that affect the industry, as well as job leads and other business-related advertising.
Another important area of the business press is trade journalism. Thousands of trade magazines and subscription-only newsletters cover only news relevant to their industries. These publications and their related trade shows are a vital part of the trade press’s mission to keep companies informed about what is happening in their fields.
These publications usually contain articles written by the editors of the journals, as well as interviews with company owners and managers who are cited in the publications. These articles generally offer detailed descriptions of the products, services, and practices of the companies they cover, focusing on how the company is utilizing the latest technology.
The trade press also provides a forum for business owners to network with other professionals in their fields and share information and experiences. It is also a useful way for businesses to market their products and services to other companies in the same industries.
Some of the business newspapers have special sections dedicated to particular subjects, such as the environment or health care. These publications often feature columnists and editorials by experts in the subject and are often accompanied by advertising.
Many large companies, especially those with national reach and an extensive sales and marketing staff, rely on the business press to help them stay abreast of what is happening in their own industry. The trade press helps them determine which markets their products and services are best suited for, enabling them to make more accurate sales forecasts and develop better marketing strategies.
In addition to providing general coverage of business issues and trends, the trade press often publishes product reviews and other newsworthy information about upcoming products. These can be as mundane as a company’s next new release of a software program or as groundbreaking as the launch of a revolutionary new product.