Free Daily Newspapers

While there is a long tradition of cheap, advertising-supported newspapers, free daily newspapers exploded around the world in the 1990s as publishers sought to reach younger audiences increasingly disconnected from traditional news media. Typically published 5 days a week, these newspapers’ reliance on advertising makes them particularly vulnerable to economic downturns. As of mid-2020, free daily newspapers were being published in 28 countries, including some newspapers that suspended distribution of printed copies for the duration of the coronavirus shutdowns, which decimated both advertising receipts and distribution networks.

Free daily newspapers tend to be produced by small staffs (often no more than a half dozen journalists), printed in a tabloid format, with relatively low page counts. Some reduce publication during holidays, when advertising is sparse. This entry ...