Latin is the language in which the etymological origin of the word newspaper is found. Specifically, it derives from “periodicus”, which can be translated as “something that happens at regular intervals” and which in turn is made up of three clearly differentiated parts:
• The prefix “peri-”, which indicates “around”.
• The noun “hodos”, which is synonymous with “way”.
• The suffix “-tikos”, which is equivalent to “relative to”.
Periodic is a word that is used to name what is repeated with a certain regularity or that keeps a certain period. For example: "The frost is a periodic phenomenon in this region of the country" , "I am fed up with the periodic attacks of this man" , "They denounce that the government offers periodic payments to journalists who write notes in their favor" .
The notion of newspaper is also used to refer to the publication that is published and distributed regularly. In general, newspaper is used as a synonym for newspaper, although the precise meaning of this second term refers to the publications that are distributed every day: "I'm going to go buy the newspaper while you prepare breakfast" , "Have you read the newspaper? There has been an earthquake in Asia ” , “ The footballer denied the statements attributed to him in the newspaper ” .
Newspapers belong to what is known as the written press. The printing press allows mass reproduction of these publications that usually reach readers first thing in the morning, so that they can find out at the beginning of the day. There are newspapers, however, that appear in the afternoon and are called evening.
Among the most important newspapers in history, in terms of life and circulation, we could highlight the "Daily Mirror" (England), "Yomiuri Shimbun" (Japan), "ABC" (Spain), "Wall Street Journal" (United States)), “Clarín” (Argentina), “New York Times” (United States), “El País” (Spain), “Jornal da Tarde” (Brazil)…
In the field of mathematics, a periodic number is one that has a period. This particularity refers to the indefinite repetition of figures as new decimals are obtained. An example of a periodic number is the result of 1 divided by 9: 0.111111…
Within the scientific field there is what is known as the periodic system, also called the periodic table or periodic classification. It is a term used in the field of Physics and Chemistry to refer to what is the arrangement of all chemical elements. Said classification is carried out based on criteria such as its atomic number and the signs of identity related to its chemical properties.
We cannot forget either what is known as the periodic lunar month. This is used within the astronomy sector to refer to the time it takes for the Moon to make a complete revolution around the planet Earth.
And within that same field is also the periodic comet, which is one that is part of the Solar System and is characterized by its regular appearances.
The newspaper in the digital age
Since online versions of newspapers do not charge users for content, many may wonder if this era is profitable for the former giants of print. And the answer includes several elements that distinguish a virtual newspaper from its printed alternative, among which are multimedia content, interactive services and the possibility of communicating with other users.
Many readers of online newspapers have a special interest in making their opinion known about the various news and columns, and then start an exchange with other people and go on to communicate in forums or chat rooms within the same portal. This gives the digital version of a newspaper a very distinctive life and personality, and in this constant movement lies the key to its success, the point that companies must exploit the most to maintain its validity.
Another aspect that differentiates the printed version of a newspaper from its web portal is commerce; Many newspapers take advantage of the large influx of users they receive to attract local stores and offer them a space to sell their products and services, which results in another source of advertising income. While part of this strategy has always taken place in the written press, the interactive nature of the Internet empowers it and takes it to levels impossible to achieve on paper.
It is worth mentioning that in many countries people still prefer the printed version of their favorite newspaper, with which it can be concluded that the digital age has not annihilated this means of communication at all; After an arduous but enriching phase of adaptation, the newspaper has taken advantage of the best of both worlds and continues to evolve.