The Library of Congress Business News Guide
Business is a complex term that encompasses various activities performed by organizations and individuals involved in the commercial and industrial sectors. These activities are geared towards the exchange of goods and services to generate revenue and profits. Businesses range from your local grocery store and ice cream vendor to manufacturing companies and multinational corporations like Apple and Google.
Business news is a genre of journalism that covers the economic and financial activity of a society or group. It is typically published in newspapers, magazines and radio. It may also be broadcast via television or on the internet. Originally, business news was only available to those who could afford subscriptions to publications such as The Wall Street Journal or London Times. However, over the years, more and more business news has been made available to a wide audience. This development was largely due to the proliferation of the internet and a greater number of news agencies that now offer subscriptions to online editions.
The first written record of business news dates back to 1700 when Daniel Defoe published a series of articles in The London Times that described the business of importing and exporting. In the nineteenth century, Charles Dow and Edward Jones began publishing business news, and muckraking journalists such as Ida Tarbell helped to bring about increased scrutiny of corporate practices. Today, most print and electronic media include a business section.
In addition to providing information about the economy, business news often focuses on trends and forecasts that will affect future growth. This includes reports about global markets and economic conditions, consumer spending and the impact of government regulations on a company’s bottom line. The latest business news also often reveals details about new products and services that are being introduced to the market.
As a result, it is important for business owners to stay current on the latest business news in order to make informed decisions about their own businesses. This can be done by reading business news online or by visiting the websites of various trade associations and professional organizations. In addition, business owners can also get up-to-date information by following business blogs and social media accounts.
The Library of Congress has numerous resources for researchers interested in business news. This guide provides an overview of business news sources and tips on how to use them. If you need more help, please feel free to ask a librarian. The staff at the Reference Desk can answer your questions in person, by phone or email. They can also point you to specific titles in our collections that have a focus on a particular country or region. This guide focuses on the business news that is available through general news sources, but you can also find regional business news by searching in our catalog.