Final answer:
A piece of writing aimed to inform in newspapers and magazines is known as a news article or report, which is a form of objective journalism. Objective journalism focuses on the factual and unbiased reporting of events and is foundational to the informative nature of such articles.
Step-by-step explanation:
A piece of writing found in newspapers and magazines whose primary purpose is to inform is typically known as a news article or news report. In the sphere of journalism, there has been a historical evolution from partisan journalism, where news media were openly biased towards political parties, to what is known today as objective journalism, where the focus is on reporting facts without interpretation. The objective reporting originated in the early twentieth century, pioneered by the likes of Adolph Ochs of The New York Times. Despite the rise of interpretive reporting, which includes some level of analysis, the central aim of a news article remains to inform the reader about events and facts objectively and accurately.
Good sources of informative writing include reports from government and international agencies, articles from major newspapers and broadcasts, and nonacademic books written by credible authors. As a student looking for informative sources, you should seek out writings that provide factual data and information in a balanced manner.
With the advent of social media, the way we consume news has changed, but the core function of newspapers as providers of information remains significant. The transition from broad-based news to more specialized 'narrowcasting' has resulted in a fragmented audience, where people select their preferred sources based on their interests. However, even as newspapers adapt to changes, they strive to maintain relevance in the digital age.