Classified advertising is a form of advertising which is particularly common in newspapers and other periodicals. A free ads paper is a newspaper containing only classified ads, usually grouped into an extensive set of categories.

Classified advertising is usually textually based and can consist of as little as the type of item being sold, (i.e., "Clothing") and a telephone number to call for more information ("call 555-7777"). It can also have much more detail, such as name to contact, address to contact or visit, a detailed description of the product or products ("pants and sweaters, size 10" as opposed to "clothing", "red 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix" as opposed to "automobile"). There are generally no pictures or other graphics within the advertisement, although sometimes a logo may be used. Classified advertising is called such because it is generally grouped within the publication under headings classifying the product or service being offered (headings such as Accounting, Automobiles, Clothing, Farm Produce, For Sale, For Rent, etc.) and is grouped entirely in a distinct section of the periodical, which makes it distinct from display advertising, which often contains graphics or other art work and which is more typically distributed throughout a publication adjacent to editorial content. A hybrid of the two forms — classified display advertising — may often be found, in which categorized advertisements with larger amounts of graphical detail can be found among the text listings of a classified advertising section in a publication. Business opportunities often use classifieds to sell their services, usually employing 1-800 numbers. Classified ads are also among the tools used by many companies in recruitment for available job opportunities.

In recent years the term "classified advertising" or "classified ads" has expanded from merely the sense of print advertisements in periodicals to include similar types of advertising on computer services, radio, and even television, particularly cable television but occasionally broadcast television as well, typically very early in the morning hours.

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BBC News | Europe | World Edition

Europe acts to strengthen banks
Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:30:12 -0000
Major European economies announce financial rescue schemes to shore up their banking systems.
EU to let Belarus leader travel
Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:28:56 -0000
The European Union is to lift its travel ban on President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, to encourage democratic reform.
Bruni backed Red Brigades woman
Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:46:54 -0000
After French President Sarkozy blocks the extradition of a former militant, it emerges his wife Carla Bruni visited her in hospital.

NYT > Europe

Italy’s Attacks on Migrants Fuel Debate on Racism
Mon, 13 Oct 2008 07:16:21 -0000
A recent spate of violence against immigrants across Italy is fueling a national conversation about racism and tolerance.
Europe Suspends Travel Ban for Belarussian Leader
Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:47:15 -0000
The European Union temporarily suspended a travel ban on President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko, rewarding the authoritarian leader for recent democratic gains.
Europe Pledges Billions for Banks
Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:07:10 -0000
After a weekend of crisis talks, European nations and the United States unveiled a staggering and coordinated series of multi-billion dollar rescue packages on Monday.

L.A. Times - Europe

Austrian far-right leader Joerg Haider killed in car crash
Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Far-right politician Joerg Haider was speeding at more than twice the posted limit before the car crash that killed him, investigators said Sunday as his grief-stricken party appointed a successor.
Europe leaders agree on bank rescue plan
Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Nations in the euro zone will have individual rescue packages but will coordinate with one another. They vow to inject liquidity into the banking sector to ease the credit crunch. European leaders agreed Sunday on a coordinated rescue plan to guarantee inter-bank lending, inject cash into the banking sector and take other measures to beat back the crisis caused by the global financial meltdown.
Philip Rivers leads Chargers past Patriots
Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Quarterback passes for 306 yards as San Diego finally finds a way to beat New England. SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Chargers spent all last week downplaying the suggestion they have a rivalry brewing with New England.

UN News Centre - Europe

UN, Dutch university partner to reach development goals
Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has joined forces with a Dutch university to promote education and research in developing countries to build momentum towards reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), eight ambitious anti-poverty targets with a 2015 deadline.
Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders agree on weekly meetings - UN
Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500
The leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities met today to continue talks on the reunification of the Mediterranean island nation, and agreed to meet on a weekly basis to keep up the momentum of the negotiations, according to a senior United Nations envoy.
UN urges European Union to end violence against women in conflict zones
Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500
The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) today urged European Union (EU) Member States to take practical steps in preventing sexual violence against women in conflict and post-conflict situations.

Europe - International Herald Tribune

Nations coordinate bid to revive economies
By ALAN COWELL AND LANDON THOMAS JR. Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:46:15 -0000
European nations and the United States unveiled a series of multibillion dollar packages Monday to shore up teetering banks and guarantee credit to free up lending among them.
Brazil to inject up to $45 billion in banks
Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:12:18 -0000
Brazil said Monday that it would ease bank reserve requirements to inject as much as to 100 billion reais, or $45.5 billion, of cash into the financial system and unfreeze lending.
European banks share blame
By Nelson D. Schwartz Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:30:52 -0000
Many European banks emulated the riskiest characteristics of their American counterparts, bulking up on what turned out to be toxic debt and relying on short-term loans to support their operations.
Stock slump imperils Putin's legacy
By CLIFFORD J. LEVY Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:46:15 -0000
The stock market slump in Russia is threatening President Vladimir Putin's legacy of bringing growth, stability and a renewed swagger to the nation.
Russia taps oil money for use in stock market
By Andrew E. Kramer Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:01:02 -0000
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said that his government would go ahead with a plan to spend budget money to buy shares on the Russian stock exchange, starting Monday, in the hope of lifting the deeply depressed market.
EU split on resuming talks with Russia
Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:46:15 -0000
Germany and Italy led the campaign to resume discussions on trade, energy and political ties after Moscow withdrew its forces from parts of Georgia, but Britain and a few other countries have called for more progress before a decision is made.

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