Business news is the information a company or organization produces about its products and services. It can be published in newspapers, magazines or online and covers a variety of topics. This type of journalism can focus on the overall economy and how it affects the world’s societies, or it may cover specific industries like manufacturing, agriculture or trade. Most newspapers, magazines and radio-news shows include a brief segment of business news in their coverage. More detailed and in-depth business news can be found in publications, websites or television channels dedicated solely to the field of business.
The word “business” can refer to any activity or enterprise that seeks profit, whether it is selling goods, providing services, or engaging in any other commercial activity. The profit can be in the form of money or other valuables, such as commodities (e.g., metals, energy), investments, or barter-style exchanges of goods and services. A business can be run by an individual or group of people and range in size from a small family operation to a large multinational corporation.
Companies that are owned by shareholders and are publicly traded on a stock exchange are called public businesses. They are subject to regulations and reporting requirements that are outlined in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) disclosure rules. Typically, these businesses publish quarterly earnings reports. Privately-held businesses are not subject to the same requirements and can be operated more freely.
A business can be categorized by industry or by the types of goods it produces, such as food, clothing, or automobiles. It can also be described by the type of service it provides, such as banking or medical care. A business can be for-profit, investing profits back into the company or into a specific goal, or not-for-profit, which invests all profits into a defined goal such as improving infrastructure. A business can also be described by the type of ownership structure it has, such as a partnership, limited liability company or corporation.
Skye Schooley is a staff writer for Business News Daily, writing articles that help entrepreneurs and small business owners grow their companies. Her background includes B2C experience in content marketing, data analysis and search engine optimization. She also has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Weber State University. Her passion for helping readers solve their business problems fuels her drive to produce quality content and create actionable insights. She is a member of the Boston chapter of the American Society of Journalists.