Big Newspapers and Small Newspapers - Oshinbunkoshinbun

Japanese: 大新聞･小新聞 - おおしんぶんこしんぶん

There were two major types of newspapers in the early Meiji period. They became clear around 1874. Large newspapers were so named because their paper size was similar to that of modern newspapers' blanket size, while small newspapers were half the size of tabloids. However, the two newspapers also had contrasting characteristics in terms of content and readership. Large newspapers were centered on editorials written in classical Chinese, while small newspapers had no editorials and the social pages were prominent. Small newspapers also made plentiful use of side notes and illustrations that were not found in large newspapers. Furthermore, while the reporters for large newspapers were from samurai families, mainly former shogunate officials, the reporters for small newspapers were from commoner families, mainly comic writers.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

明治前期における新聞の二大類型。1874年ごろから明確になる。大新聞は紙型が現代の新聞のブランケット判に近いのに対し，小新聞はその半分のタブロイド判であるため，こう呼ばれた。しかし，内容や読者層においても両者の特徴は対照的であった。大新聞が漢文口調の論説中心であるのに対し，小新聞には論説がなく，社会面が目だっていた。また大新聞にはない傍訓，挿画が，小新聞にはふんだんに使われていた。さらに大新聞の記者が旧幕臣を中心とした士族出身であるのに対し，小新聞の記者は戯作者を中心とした庶民出身であった。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

<<: Ozu [city] - Ozu

>>: Ojoya - Ojoya