{{More footnotes needed, date=August 2023
Corantos were early informational
broadsheet
A broadsheet is the largest newspaper format and is characterized by long Vertical and horizontal, vertical pages, typically of in height. Other common newspaper formats include the smaller Berliner (format), Berliner and Tabloid (newspaper ...
s and precursors to
newspaper
A newspaper is a Periodical literature, periodical publication containing written News, information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background. Newspapers can cover a wide variety of fields such as poli ...
s. Beginning around the 14th century, a system developed where letters containing news and philosophical discussion were sent to a central collecting point to be bundled and redistributed to various correspondents. The banking house of
Fugger
The House of Fugger () is a German family that was historically a prominent group of European bankers, members of the fifteenth- and sixteenth-century mercantile patriciate of Augsburg, international mercantile bankers, and venture capitalists. ...
was particularly known for its organized system of collecting and routing these letters, which often could be seen by outsiders. This method of disseminating news continued until the 18th century. The term "newspaper" was not coined till 1670; Prior to that, a variety of terms were used to describe this
genre
Genre () is any style or form of communication in any mode (written, spoken, digital, artistic, etc.) with socially agreed-upon conventions developed over time. In popular usage, it normally describes a category of literature, music, or other fo ...
, including "paper", "
newsbook
Newsbooks were the 17th-century precursors to today's newspapers.
Originating in England and Scotland, they are distinct from the earlier news periodicals, known as corantos, which were sourced from continental Europe.
History
The first newsboo ...
Encyclopædia Britannica
The is a general knowledge, general-knowledge English-language encyclopaedia. It has been published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. since 1768, although the company has changed ownership seven times. The 2010 version of the 15th edition, ...