Newspaper of Record - Newspapers of Record (by Reputation)

Newspapers of Record (by Reputation)

The second type of "newspaper of record" (also known by the French terms Presse de référence, or simply de référence) is not defined by any formal criteria and its characteristics can be variable. The category typically consists of those newspapers that are considered to meet higher standards of journalism than most print media (including editorial independence and attention to accuracy) and are usually renowned internationally. Notwithstanding changes in society, such newspapers have historically tended to maintain the same tone, coverage, style and traditions.

The term in this sense is believed to have originated among librarians, who began referring to The New York Times as the "newspaper of record" when it became in 1913 the first newspaper in the United States to publish an index of the subjects covered in its pages. In 1927, the New York Times held an essay contest in which entrants had to demonstrate "The Value of The New York Times Index and Files as a Newspaper of Record". During this era, the Times and other newspapers would also publish announcements, schedules, directories and transcripts "for the record". Over time, historians began to rely on the Times and other similar titles as an archival chronicle of past events and a gauge of societal opinions at the time of printing. The term "newspaper of record" thus evolved from its original literal sense to its currently understood meaning.