Business news is a category of publishing that covers all sorts of business-related issues. This includes newspaper coverage, trade press, industry magazines and Web-based news and features.
The term “business” refers to an organization or enterprising entity engaged in commercial, industrial, professional or any other activity for the purpose of making a profit. This is often a large or international organization, but it can also be an individual or small group.
Many newspapers carry a business section or tabloid that focuses on the companies in their area. These publications are usually owned by a chain that specializes in this type of publication or by a syndicate. They feature local business columnists, management-level new hires and promotions, times of meetings of local business clubs and coverage of how local company stocks are doing.
National daily, weekly and monthly general business newspapers and magazines like the Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Fortune and Forbes are another important part of this category. These publications take an in-depth look at large companies, often focusing on their products and how they are affecting the economy. They also have special sections that focus on industry issues or the latest technological advances that may affect businesses in their coverage areas.
A number of other general interest publications and periodicals cover business news, but their coverage tends to be less in-depth than that of the trade press. They include general, factual wire reports and articles and other feature material that the newspapers staff write.
The trade press is the largest category of the business news industry and consists of thousands of magazines that cover a broad range of industries from aerospace to medical equipment to computer software. It is a major source of news and advertising for many companies, particularly those selling only to other businesses.
It is also a source of marketing and public relations opportunities for those businesses that have a specialty in an area. It also is a major source of information for companies and managers about new company products, industry sales, governmental regulations, job leads and investment opportunities.
In recent years, the Internet has transformed the business news sector. This has created a new locus of competition among traditional business publishers and technology-savvy Internet publishers.
There are several websites and apps that provide up-to-the-minute business news, analysis and market data. The CNBC Breaking Business News app (available on iPhone and Android) is a good example of this category. It gives users access to real-time financial news and data, and offers a customizable watch list that keeps them up-to-date on news associated with their stock investments.
Other apps and websites that provide business news, including the Wall Street Journal’s website, are available for those who want to stay up-to-date on all the important business happenings around the world. They offer breaking news alerts that are pushed through even when the user isn’t using the app.
The business press has a rich and varied history. It can be traced back to the first coastal colonial newspapers that covered business arrivals and cargo manifests. As businesses grew and the nation began to develop, newspapers started to separate the business pages from their other content. In the 1800s, national trade magazines were established to cover formerly specialized businesses that were now becoming national “industries.” Today, business media is a diverse and growing sector of publishing.