What is a Broadsheet?
The term “broadsheet” is used both to refer to a generic paper size, and to specific types of publications which have historically been produced on broadsheets. The classic example of a broadsheet is a wide-circulation newspaper, with the broadsheet size being preferred by many newspaper publishers. Newspapers which are intended to act as major news authorities are classically printed on broadsheet-sized pieces of paper.
Unlike many other paper sizes, which include very precise dimensions, the dimension of a broadsheet can actually vary considerably. As a general rule, the sheets are vertically long and short horizontally, with a length of at least 22 inches (56 centimeters) and a width which can vary. In a full broadsheet, a sheet of paper is printed and folded to create four pages, a front and back and two inner pages. A half broadsheet is a single piece of paper printed on both sides with no fold. For convenience in distribution, broadsheets are often folded in half lengthwise, but the fold does not impact the page count.
The origins of this paper size appear to lie in the 1600s, when early newspapers began printing half broadsheets with major news of note. The broadsheet size was also used for song lyrics, posters, and other informational materials. Over time, news producers began to adopt the full broadsheet, and eventually additional sheets were interleaved to create the newspaper. “Broadsheet” was used to refer to newspapers as well as advertising materials printed on broadsheet-sized paper.
Several explanations have been posited for why the large broadsheet paper size became so popular. In the days of single-sheet publications, obviously the larger the paper was, the more information could be printed on it, which may have been a factor. Historically, taxes were also calculated by the number of pages, rather than their size, so using large pages would have reduced the total number necessary, thereby lowering tax rates for a publisher.
The real explanation appears to lie in the traditional association of large things with more authority. A broadsheet-sized publication looked more official, respectable, and authoritative than a smaller newspaper. It was also harder to print, which is why many producers switched to the tabloid size, which is about half the size of a broadsheet. The implications of the broadsheet size were that the paper was a respectable authority which could afford the oversized presses needed to produce broadsheets, as opposed to a cheap, low-market tabloid which was forced to use a smaller paper size. Of course, most modern presses are fully capable of handling the broadsheet size, but the link between “broadsheet” and “respected authority” continues to exist in many eyes, which is why traditionally broadsheet-sized papers attract comment when they switch to the tabloid size.
Written by S.E. Smith
