Why newspapers use two dates

Have you noticed that the date mentioned as the publication date in newspapers is different to the date mentioned in the news reports?

If not, do it now. You will find that the stories are written in yesterday’s date – that is the date on which the events occurred. The publication date, on the other hand, mentions the date on which the newspaper is sold on the streets – that is today.

There is nothing wrong in this. An event can be reported only after it has occurred. However, it is important that the readers should know the date when the event actually occurred.

This is done through the dateline. If you examine the story carefully, you will find that each news report starts with a place name and a date. These two elements, called a dateline, are used to anchor the story.

The place name helps you identify the city or town where the event occurred. The date, on the other hand, works like an anchor. The reporter uses the date to tell you when the event occurred.

Let’s study the following dateline to understand how it works:

Raipur, May 29:

First, the place name is Raipur so you know that the event either happened in Raipur or in a place around it.

Second, the story was published in a morning newspaper dated May 30. That is why the story writing date is May 29.

Third, the event must have occurred on May 29 or before that.

If the event happened on May 29: The reporter will state the event happened today. Today means May 29 and not May 30 – the day on which the newspaper has been published.

If the event occurred on May 28: The reporter will say the event happened yesterday, that is on May 28 and not May 29.

If the event occurred on May 23: The reporter will either use the date – May 23 – or the day – Friday – to indicate the date when the event occurred.

Some newspapers use the day, and not the date, in the dateline. In these cases, the day is used to establish the date on which the event occurred.

Fortunately, afternoon and evening newspapers don’t have to struggle with two dates. The publication date and the date used in the dateline are the same. This is because the story is written on the same day that the paper is published.