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Newspaper is the most common and popular medium of print journalism. Although there is hardly any consensus as to the definition of newspaper, one of the acceptable definitions included in the Press and Registration of Books Act reads, "Newspaper means any printed periodical work containing public news or comments on public news".

However, the Indian Post Office Act says, "Every publication consisting wholly or in great part of political or other news or of articles relating thereto or to other current topics, with or without advertisements, shall be deemed a newspaper subject to the following conditions, namely (a) that it is published in numbers at intervals of not more than 31 days, (b) that is has a bonafide list of subscribers".

The definition of UNESCO is also acceptable, which broadly divides newspaper into two categories, namely, General Interest Newspapers and Periodicals. 'General Interest Newspapers' is defined as any publication put on sale to the general public, which serves as an initial source or written news of current events in the field of public affairs, politics, government etc.

UNESCO also defines 'periodical' other than a general interest newspaper as a publication which appears under the same title at regular intervals but more than once a year and whose contents vary from information of a general nature to trades, technical and professional subjects.