A computer network server provides a customized newspaper to a recipient according to recipient profile preferences. The server searches for and obtains article content that is deemed to be of greatest interest to the recipient according to topical preferences, generates a representation of the selected content according to a layout preference, and delivers the representation to the recipient according to a designated schedule. Recipient preferences are received and stored in a profile database using facilities that assist a recipient to specify preferred topics, newspaper layout, delivery schedule and destination. Topical designations are mapped into hierarchical structures that facilitate searching content databases. Newspaper articles are arranged according to relative priorities of designated topics.