Wiktionary
a. 1 (context newspapers English) Situated in the upper half of the front page of a broadsheet newspaper, and thus more prominent, as the lower half is not usually visible when the folded newspaper is displayed for sale. 2 (context web design English) By extension, situated near the top of a web page; not requiring scrolling. See above the scroll. 3 Anything similarly occupying an exclusive position of relative prominence
Wikipedia
Above the fold is the upper half of the front page of a newspaper where an important news story or photograph is often located. Papers are often displayed to customers folded so that only the top half of the front page is visible. Thus, an item that is "above the fold" may be one that the editors feel will entice people to buy the paper. Alternatively, it reflects a decision, on the part of the editors, that the article is one of the day's most important. By extension, the space above the fold is also preferred by advertisers, since it is the most prominent and visible even when the newspaper is on stands.
The term can be used more generally to refer to anything that is prominently displayed or of highest priority. Above the fold is sometimes used in web development to refer the portions of a webpage that are visible without scrolling.
Usage examples of "above the fold".
It mentioned his death above the fold, but it wasn't the headline.
The story about the barbershop shoot-out had made it above the fold.
The story of the dead neurosurgeon and the crashed plane had been bad, but to Gard's mind, the story above the fold - the one Newt and Dick had ignored - was much worse.