Tabloid refers to both a newspaper size and a type of publication. It originated from the term “tabloids” used for medicine capsules. Tabloid size is cheaper to produce and easier to handle, but is often associated with sensationalist journalism.
In the newspaper industry, the term “tabloid” refers to both a specific type of newspaper and a specific paper size. Most laymen think of a particular type of publication when they hear the word “tabloid,” not realizing that the term was originally used to refer to paper format and that the two concepts are actually very closely related.
In terms of paper size, a tabloid is about the size of a large magazine, about 14 inches (36 centimeters) deep and about 10 inches (25 centimeters) wide. Tabloid is essentially half the size of the larger broadsheet format, making it much more compact and easier to handle. The precise paper size may vary slightly, depending on the country and newspaper involved.
The term originates in drug marketing in the 1800s. When medicine first began to be marketed in capsules rather than bulky bottles of powder and bulk liquids, the capsules were known as “tabloids.” The tabloid or tablet must have been easier to take, since it was compact in size and became immensely popular.
Newspapers picked up on the term when they began cutting the sheet size in half. News tabloids originally featured highly compressed and compact news stories, as opposed to the more detailed and lengthy stories in newspapers. Over time, the tabloids have come to be associated with many pictures, lurid images and simplistic stories, an association that endures to this day.
The size of the tabloid has some distinct advantages from a publishers perspective. It is cheaper to produce, requires less paper and avoids the need for a large press that can handle large sheets. Customers like the tabloid size because it’s easier to manage; struggling with a big poster can be a real pain. The tradition of presenting condensed news in a tabloid format is also appealing to some readers, as some people just want the basics, without in-depth discussions.
People often use the term “tabloid” to refer to a sensationalist, business newspaper, often in the sense of a freely distributed newspaper. Many weeklies and alternative newspapers use the tabloid format regardless of their journalistic quality because it is cheaper and easier to produce. Alternative documents are often free, supported entirely by advertising revenue. The tendency to associate tabloids with sensationalist journalism and broadsides with respectable journalism is not always accurate, as some side-format newspapers are as lurid as trashy magazines, and many tabloid-format newspapers are entirely respectable.
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