History of the Daily News
In the early 20th century, New York Daily News was the first tabloid newspaper to find success in the United States. Founded in 1919 by Joseph Medill Patterson, who was also co-publisher of the Chicago Tribune, it specialized in sensational and titillating pictorial coverage and reader contests, and became known as “The Eyes, the Ears and the Honest Voice of New York City.”
The Daily News found a major audience on the city’s subway system where commuters appreciated its smaller size and layout. In addition to its front page dramas, it covered local and national news stories and featured a number of columnists. The paper’s success was further boosted by the Roaring Twenties when the newspaper focused on both political wrongdoing like the Teapot Dome scandal and social intrigue such as the romance between Wallis Simpson and King Edward VIII that led to his abdication.
By the end of the decade, circulation had reached 1.5 million. The Daily News continued its policy of covering both politics and popular culture, and also introduced a comics section and a sports page. In the 1960s, it was a major player in the Civil Rights movement and was widely recognized as a leader of investigative journalism.
After a long decline in the 1980s, when it was losing $1 million per month, the Daily News nearly folded. But in the end, severance pay and pensions for its employees made closing the paper too costly. The newspaper was saved when the Tribune Company, which owned it at that time, offered to repurchase the Daily News for one dollar.
The new owners began to revitalize the newspaper. A new editorial stance was adopted that stressed civic duty and a concern for the common good. The Daily News reclaimed its position as the most important newspaper in New York and was able to hold its own with other national papers.
Today, the Daily News is one of the most respected newspapers in the world. The paper has a staff of award-winning writers, editors and columnists that cover everything from the Yankees, Mets, and Giants to national and local politics. In addition, the paper covers celebrity gossip and entertainment and features a wide range of opinion columns.
Each Daily News article contains comprehension and critical thinking questions that can help students better understand the news story. These questions are found under “Background” and “Resources” (including videos, maps and links) on the left side of each article.
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