free newspapers Written by Aske Kammer Contributor to SAGE Publications's The SAGE International Encyclopedia of Mass Media and Society (2020) whose work appears in Britannica as part of a joint publishing agreement with SAGE. Aske Kammer Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Apr. 28, 2026 •History Free newspapers are fully financed through advertising and are, therefore, available for audiences free of charge. Although often perceived of as low-quality substitutes for proper newspapers, free newspapers became hugely popular in the 2000s. This type of newspaper has, however, experienced dramatic decreases in circulation and readership as well as the number of titles with the increased popularity of online media and mobile devices. This entry discusses the business model of free newspapers, their quality,...

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