Newspaper Article: Purpose

The primary purpose of a newspaper article is to inform. It is essential to present the information in a clear, concise, and accurate manner.
A secondary purpose can be to persuade or opinionate. Opinion pieces, columns, or editorials are types of articles that can carry the author’s viewpoint on an issue.
Newspaper articles may also aim to educate. In-depth articles, features or explainers may discuss a topic at length, providing background, context, and analysis.
Additionally, they may be aimed to entertain. Light-hearted features or human-interest stories offer readers an escapism from hard news.
An important aspect is to engage the readers. A well-written and interesting article will attract the reader to read right till the end, and think about the issue at hand.
Some articles may serve to invoke action. This is seen in articles that call out to readers to participate or contribute to a cause.

Identifying the Purpose in Newspaper Articles

The headline and subheader of the article will often indicate its purpose. For instance, a headline that starts with ‘how to’ is likely to educate, while a question might indicate that the purpose is to persuade.
The first paragraph, or the lead, often summarises the purpose of the article. A factual statement indicates an informative purpose, an opinion indicates persuasion, and a narrative often means to entertain.
Also pay attention to the tone and language. Emotive language, for instance, may imply a persuasive or engaging intent.
Author lines and sections can also provide clues. Opinion columns, advice sections, and news stories each have their specific purposes.
Finally, also consider the overall context or situation. An article on a recent event is likely to inform, while a piece on an ongoing issue might aim to engage or persuade.