The Daily News
Founded in 1919, Daily News is the first U.S. newspaper printed in tabloid format. It is currently owned by tronc and is headquartered in New York City. It is considered to be the ninth most read daily newspaper in the United States, with a total circulation of 200,000 copies a day. The paper is known for its bold headlines, and has a liberal-to-moderate political bias in contrast to its conservative rival, the New York Post. The Daily News also features celebrity gossip, classified ads, and a robust sports section.
The newspaper was originally owned by Joseph Medill Patterson, publisher of the Chicago Tribune, who decided to launch a rival in his home city after he and his co-publisher were at odds over editorial content. The Daily News was the first of its kind, and quickly grew in popularity and readership. In the mid-1920s, it began to expand its presence in the city, establishing local bureaus in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. The paper also owned the radio station WPIX and a television station, which both carried its call letters.
At its peak, the Daily News had a weekly circulation of over 1.5 million, which made it one of the largest newspapers in the world at that time. The newspaper was famous for its investigative journalism, and is credited with uncovering many instances of corruption in New York City government. Its front-page story on the Teapot Dome Scandal, for example, fueled public outrage that forced the resignation of the Secretary of the Interior.
In addition to investigative reporting, the Daily News featured popular columnists like Jimmy Breslin and Mike Lupica. The newspaper’s extensive sports coverage is well regarded as the best in town, especially its coverage of the New York Yankees and the New York Mets. The paper also had a dedicated entertainment section, which featured the latest in film and music.
By the end of the twentieth century, the newspaper’s prestige had started to wane. A multi-union strike in 1978 severely impacted production and advertising revenue, contributing to a decline in the paper’s circulation. In addition, the rise of the internet contributed to a dramatic drop in readership. The Daily News’s once-dominant position in the New York market was overtaken by the more sophisticated and contemporary New York Times.
In the early 21st century, the Daily News continued to be one of the top-selling newspapers in the country, but its circulation remained significantly lower than that of its competitors. In the wake of the financial crisis of 2008, the paper cut jobs and eliminated many of its popular sections in an attempt to save money. However, the move backfired and the newspaper suffered a devastating loss of revenue.
Today, the Daily News is a much smaller newspaper with fewer staff members and a smaller online edition. However, the newspaper is still a popular source of news for readers in New York City and beyond. In addition to its strong local coverage, the Daily News offers a variety of national and international news stories and a wide array of opinion pieces.