Business news is the area of journalism that covers the economic and financial activities and changes within a society. This type of news can be found in newspapers, magazines, radio and television broadcasts as well as online. It can be focused on a specific industry or it may encompass the overall economy of a country or region. This type of news is very important to consumers of goods and services as it provides them with the information they need to make sound decisions about the purchases they are making.
The word business is defined as an organization or enterprising entity engaged in commercial, industrial or professional activities. Businesses can be for-profit entities, operating as private enterprises or as corporations and they can be not-for-profit organizations fulfilling a charitable mission or furthering a social cause. Most of the world’s economies are based on some form of business and businesses generate much of the world’s wealth.
Businesses can be small operations in a single location or large, global corporations with many divisions and locations around the world. Some businesses are publicly-traded, while others are privately-owned. There are also a wide variety of business types, including sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations and limited liability companies.
A major source of business news is provided by the financial sector of the economy. This includes the stock markets, banking and investments. News about these areas can affect consumer and investor confidence, and thus influence the direction of a market.
Other sources of business news include trade publications, which focus on specific industries. These may be published in print or online and cover topics like sales, marketing, technology and general trends in the industry. There are many subscription-based business news sources available, and many of these have dedicated websites.
The Library of Congress has a number of resources for business researchers, including collections of historical and contemporary newspaper articles and microfilm. These can be accessed from any location with an internet connection and the ability to search. For assistance with specific research needs or for more information about these resources, please contact a librarian.