Editing Newsletter

{{Short description|Report containing news}}
{{other use}}
{{Wiktionary}}
A '''newsletter''' is a [[printing|printed]] or [[electronic publishing|electronic]] report containing [[news]] concerning the activities of a [[business]]  or an [[organization]] that is sent to its members, customers, employees or other [[Subscription business model|subscribers]].

Newsletters generally contain one main topic of interest to its recipients and may be considered [[grey literature]]. E-newsletters are delivered electronically via [[e-mail]] and can be viewed as [[spamming]] if [[Email marketing|e-mail marketing]] is sent unsolicited.<ref>[http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/newsletter newsletter] ([[British English]], [[American English]]): [[Cambridge English Dictionary]], retrieved on 2017-05-18.</ref><ref name=Britannica>{{cite encyclopedia | url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/publishing/The-first-newspapers#ref28661 |title = History of publishing - the first newspapers |encyclopedia=[[Britannica]] |access-date=2019-11-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Endres |first=Kathleen L. |year=2009 |chapter=Newsletters, Newspapers, Pamphlets |title=Journalism and Mass Communication, Volume 1 |series=[[Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems]]|publisher=[[UNESCO]] |isbn=978-1-905839-71-1 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z03DDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA90 |pages=90–104}}</ref>

The newsletter, sometimes a [[periodical]], is the most common form of [[serial publication]].<ref name=Smith>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JaSPAgAAQBAJ&q=Serial+publications&pg=PT244 |title = Strategic Planning for Public Relations|isbn = 9781135606077|last1 = Smith|first1 = Ronald D.|date = 2004-09-15| publisher=Routledge }}</ref> About two-thirds of newsletters are internal publications, aimed towards employees and volunteers, while about one-third are external publications, aimed towards advocacy or special interest groups.<ref name=Smith/>

==History==
In [[ancient Rome]], newsletters were exchanged between [[government official|officials]] or [[friend]]s.<ref name="Britannica" /> By the Middle Ages, they were exchanged between [[merchant family|merchant families]].<ref name="Britannica" /> Trader's newsletters covered various topics such as the availability and pricing of goods, political news, and other events that would influence trade.<ref name="Britannica" /> These commercial newsletters were in effect, the first "serious" outlet for news publishing, from which evolved [[newspaper]]s.<ref name="Britannica" />

The first full "newspaper" was ''[[Relation of Strasbourg]]'', printed in 1609 by [[Johann Carolus]]. Many rivals soon followed, such as the German ''[[Avisa Relation oder Zeitung]]'' and the Dutch ''[[Nieuwe Tijdingen]]''.<ref name="Britannica" /> By the end of the 17th century, several newspapers were established all across Europe, and were often translated into other languages.<ref name="Britannica" /> By the late 17th century, several governments were [[Censorship|censoring]] newspapers, which harmed their development.<ref name="Britannica" /> Wars, like the [[Thirty Years' War]], also imposed restrictions on trade, which could lead to shortage of paper in addition to censorship.<ref name="Britannica" />

Government censorship remains in effect in several countries to this day, although several countries now have laws guaranteeing [[freedom of the press]].

===Modernity===
Modern newsletters are usually created and distributed electronically by companies, organizations or individuals.

Newsletter marketing is a form of [[direct-to-consumer advertising]]. This is used by companies that want to send information directly to potential and existing customers.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bigcommerce.ca/ecommerce-answers/what-is-newsletter-marketing |title = What is newsletter marketing and why it's important for ecommerce}}</ref> When received unsolicited, they can be seen as [[Spamming|spam]].

Newsletters are also used by organizations to inform their members of ongoing developments.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://smallbusiness.chron.com/editorial-policies-organizational-newsletters-80130.html |title = Editorial Policies for Organizational Newsletters}}</ref>

Writing and distributing personal newsletters by individuals can be observed since the late 2010s in the advent of [[social networking service| social networking services]]. Due to the way the algorithms on such services work, followers may not see the updates someone posts.

==Production==
Many paper newsletters are [[Letter (paper size)|letter-size]] [[pamphlet]]s, sometimes made of side- or corner-stapled letter-size paper, sometimes of [[Bookbinding#Stitched_or_sewn_binding|saddle-stitched]] (stapled) [[tabloid (paper size)|tabloid paper]].

Until the early 20th century, newsletters were generally produced by [[letterpress printing|letterpress]]. The development of [[spirit duplicator|spirit duplicators]] and [[mimeograph|mimeograph machines]] in the early 20th century made short-run reproduction more economical. In the 1960s, [[xerography|xerographic photocopying]] became ubiquitous.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite book
 |last1=Arth |first1=Marvin
 |last2=Ashmore |first2=Helen
 |last3=Floyd |first3=Elaine
 |date=November 1995
 |title=The Newsletter Editor's Desk Book
 |publisher=Newsletter Resources
 |isbn=9780963022226
}}
*{{Cite book
 |last1=Brooks |first1=Rose Marie
 |last2=Clack |first2=Melissa
 |display-authors=etal
 |year=1972
 |title=The Standard Directory of Newsletters
 |publisher=Oxbridge Publishing Company
 |isbn=9780911086072
}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Newsletters|Newsletters]]
[[Category:Publications by format]]
[[Category:Grey literature]]