"No, they are not free, and you must pay for them in the same way as you would any other goods purchased in a store." Newspapers are available for purchase beside the tills and in the book section. The ones at the entrance (typically tiny, local distribution) are free. At least, this is the situation in the shop where I work. We don't sell much food here, so perhaps it's different elsewhere. Newspaper vendors often set up stalls in public spaces to sell their papers. These vendors do not need a license from the police to operate their businesses. In conclusion, yes, newspaper vendors are free to set up their stalls anywhere there are people who want to read newspapers.