Newspapers in Great Nortend

The front page of the Regal Post.

Newspapers in Great Nortend form the most important published source of national, regional and local news. News reels and radio news provide some headline news items; however, they do not compete with newspapers for comprehensive provision of news, as well as current affairs, gossip, opinion, classified advertisements and more.

History

What would be termed “newspapers” have been published in Great Nortend since the 18th century. The first daily newspaper was the Daily New-Tidings, published in Lendert-with-Cadell in 1743, which published “new-tidings”, or news, from across the country and from abroad “without comment or note”. Being at first considered papers or pamphlets, rather than booklets, they were not originally subject to control from the Compagnie of Stationers and Printers. Later, the Crown imposed a duty on all newspapers, and commanded the Compagnie of Stationers and Printers that “no news-paper shall be let printed” without having been checked for “scandalising or libellous accusations of patent falsehood”. As such, every newspaper printed or published in Great Nortend must be registered as a news-paper with the Compagnie of Stationers and Printers, who designate a member of the typesetting staff to be responsible for carrying out this legal requirement.

Overview

There are three national ordinary broadsheet newspapers in Great Nortend, as well as countless smaller local, temporary or special newspapers or periodicals across the country. Most towns and large villages have their own daily or weekly newspaper. The national broadsheets have a relatively large circulation, especially in urban areas. Though most newspapers are nationalist and conservative in general outlook, they do not tend to promote particular political parties explicitly given that the political consensus is driven mainly by the aforementioned nationalist and conservative ideas.

The majority of Erbonian households buy newspapers regularly through a local newsagency or newsstand, and approximately nine out of ten households “regularly” purchase at least one newspaper. Newspapers are also often delivered to households, usually by young “paper boys” on bicycles. Paper boys also sell newspapers on the streets.

Broadsheets

Broadsheet newspapers are printed on “full elephant” sized paper, 23 inches × 33 inches, folded in half, hence their nickname of “elephant folios”. Compared to farded halfsheets (vide infra) they are more known for their national journalism rather than gossip and opinion. Most have only minimal illustrations or photography and are densely packed with columns of black print. There are three national daily broadsheets which are distributed across the country. These are :—

• The New-Tidings: The original and most popular broadsheet newspaper in Great Nortend published in Lendert-with-Cadell with a daily circulation of 2,950,000. It is not party affiliated but conservative and nationalist. Serves mainly the middling classes.

• The Regal Post: A newspaper often considered to be authoritative with a daily circulation of 2,240,000 published in Lendert-with-Cadell. Favoured by the Royal family and much of the upper classes. Published daily except Sunday, Christmas Day and Good Friday.

• The North Herald: A newspaper published in Rhise most popular in Hambria but syndicated nationally with a daily circulation of 750,000. It is popular with the middling and lower classes. Published daily except Sunday, Christmas Day and Good Friday.

There are also two national financial broadsheets.

• Collings' List and Gazette: A financial and legal newspaper published in Lendert-with-Cadell with a daily circulation of 110,000 nationally. Strongly economically conservative. Published daily except on Sundays and public holidays.

• Commercial Paper: A financial and commercial newspaper published in Rhise with a daily circulation of 75,000 nationally. It is considered to be economically more liberal than Collings' List. Published daily except on Sundays and public holidays.

Halfsheets

A halfsheet newspaper are usually printed on “full middle” size paper, 19 inches × 22 inches. The majority of Erbonian newspapers are halfsheets. Halfsheets which are printed in black only are considered to have more reputable journalism. Some halfsheets, called “farded” papers, are printed with black and colour, especially red, and associated with “tabloid” or casual audiences, with a greater focus on advice or gossip columns, sport, betting and popular culture. This distinction is not necessarily strictly observed, as many “black” halfsheets and even broadsheets use colour at least occasionally. Indeed, red ink is required for the printing of the duty paid stamp on all newspapers.

Black halfsheets are mostly local or regional papers, or national evening papers. They include :—

• The Evening Cock: The most popular evening black halfsheet, published in Lendert-with-Cadell with a circulation of 4,050,000.

• The Cadell and Lendert Tidings

• The Limmes Tidings

• The Faunslaughter Post

• The Church Tidings: A newspaper popular with clergymen published on Saturdays. It provides for the week beginning on Sunday the order of all prescribed services.

There are four main national farded halfsheets, being :—

• The Morning Post: The most popular newspaper in Great Nortend, published in Lendert-with-Cadell with a readership of 4,200,000, with a strong consevative nationalist leaning. It is published mornings daily except Sundays.

• The Daily Bull: A newspaper published in Lendert-with-Cadell with a readership of 2,400,000. It is popular with housewives, especially the write-in discussion columns. It is published mornings daily except Sundays.

• The Whistler: A newspaper published in Rhise with a readership of 2,350,000. It is popular with the urban working class and is known for its classified advertisements, sports and betting sections. It is published evenings daily except Sundays.

• The Polton Courier: A newspaper published in Polton but syndicated nationally with a distribution of 900,000. It appeals to the more politically aware working classes, although takes a centrist position. It is published evenings daily except Sundays.

Official newspaper

The main official newspaper is the Court Gazette, which lists official government news such as new laws, regulations, letters patent, appointments, retirements, &c. It also lists missing persons, persons wanted by the police, notice of proceedings and civil judgments at court, the activities of the Royal family, government ministers, and aristocracy, notices of birth, betrothal, marriage and death, other public notices and more. It is published every day except Sundays and other holidays. It is distributed to every police station, yeoman of the roll, judge, school, council, post office and government office. Copies may be purchased by members of the public as well from newsagents. The Court Gazette is known for its very dense layout and small typeface. It publishes the telling copy of most instruments, even when the original is in Latin.