A broadsheet is the largest standard newspaper format, traditionally measuring roughly 22–30 inches (56–76 cm) in height. The term originally referred to single large sheets used in the 17th century for ballads, royal proclamations, and political pamphlets in England. By the 19th century, it had become the dominant format for daily newspapers, partly because the British Stamp Act of 1712 taxed newspapers by the page, encouraging publishers to print on fewer, larger sheets.
In contemporary media analysis, "broadsheet" carries a connotation beyond physical dimensions. It typically denotes a paper of record that prioritises long-form reporting, foreign affairs, parliamentary coverage, business news, and editorial analysis. Titles commonly described as broadsheets include The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Le Monde, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, and historically The Times (London), The Guardian, and The Daily Telegraph. The format is contrasted with the tabloid, which is roughly half the size and historically associated with shorter, more sensational content, though this stylistic distinction has blurred considerably.
Several major papers have shifted away from the physical broadsheet format while retaining its editorial identity. The Independent moved to a compact (tabloid-sized) format in 2003, followed by The Times in 2004. The Guardian adopted the Berliner format in 2005 and then a tabloid size in 2018. Despite these changes, analysts and media scholars still classify these papers as "broadsheet" in tone and substance.
For political researchers and MUN delegates, broadsheets are key primary sources for tracking official positions, diplomatic signalling, and elite opinion. Citing a broadsheet generally carries more weight in policy memos than citing a tabloid, although bias, ownership concentration, and editorial line should still be evaluated. Media monitoring services such as LexisNexis, Factiva, and the GDELT Project index broadsheet coverage to map narrative trends across countries.
Example
In 2003, British broadsheet *The Guardian* and American broadsheet *The New York Times* published divergent editorial lines on the Iraq War, illustrating how broadsheet framing shapes transatlantic policy debate.
Frequently asked questions
Originally size, but the term now also signals editorial seriousness. Papers like The Guardian and The Times still count as broadsheets in style even after switching to smaller print formats.
Keep learning