Business news is a type of news that focuses on the commercial sector of the economy. It can include news on corporations, small businesses, and the overall economic health of a region or country. It can also cover the political environment and broader socioeconomic trends. Business news is commonly found in newspapers, magazines, radio and television. It can also be accessed online and through various business newswires.
The origin of business news is rooted in the need to provide information to commercial entities that have a stake in a community or region’s financial success. This need stemmed from the growth of trading cities during the industrial revolution, such as London and New York. These traders would require a constant flow of information in order to make informed decisions about investment and trading. The development of the newspaper industry in the 18th century enabled the spread of business news to a wider audience.
Businesses come in many shapes and sizes and can be privately owned or public. Some are for profit while others are not-for-profit organisations that reinvest any profits into achieving stated goals or improving infrastructure. Businesses can be as small as a one-person operation running out of a home or as large as a multinational corporation with thousands of employees.
Any organisation that trades goods or services for profit is considered to be in business. This includes sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations. The pursuit of profit is what defines a business, although not all businesses succeed in obtaining it. Those that do not wish to be in business may choose not to trade or they may close down.
The Library of Congress has a number of resources that can help you with your business research. You can find business news articles in our newspaper and periodical collections, on microfilm and in our electronic databases. Additionally, our librarians are available to answer your questions through Ask-A-Librarian.
What is a Business?
The term business is used to describe any type of trading activity. The most common types of business are service, retail, and manufacturing, but there are other less-traditional types such as farming or mining. Regardless of the type of business, there are a number of things that all businesses have in common. They all exchange goods or services for money and they all have some kind of customer base.
A business can be run by a single person or it can be a large organization with hundreds of employees. Regardless of the size or type of business, it must have some sort of value proposition that differentiates it from its competitors. This value proposition is often outlined in a mission statement or vision statement, which should be clearly communicated to employees and customers. In addition, a business should have clear policies regarding employee and customer treatment, competition with other businesses, and its relationship with the local community. This helps to create a sense of brand identity that can be leveraged to attract customers and investors.