The Daily News
News is information about current events, people, places, or things. It is usually reported in written form but can be communicated verbally as well. Most people agree that the main purpose of news is to inform and educate its readers, listeners or viewers. Sometimes, however, it can also be entertaining.
The New York Daily News is a newspaper founded in 1919 and considered to be the first successful tabloid in America. It gained a huge readership in the 1920s because of its sensational stories about crime, murder and other scandals, its lurid photographs and its cartoons and entertainment features. The paper became known as “The Eyes, the Ears, the Honest Voice of New York City”.
In 1975, The Daily News rolled out what would become its best-known headline — “Ford to City: Drop Dead.” The newspaper had backed President Gerald Ford’s veto of a bankruptcy bailout for the city, which it called the worst financial disaster in American history. The headline was credited with contributing to the defeat of Ford’s 1976 campaign for the presidency against Jimmy Carter.
During the 1980s and 1990s, The Daily News earned a reputation for championing civil rights issues and protecting the First Amendment. Its reporters, especially those of its editorial page, won Pulitzer Prizes for commentary and reporting on such subjects as racism, welfare reform and police brutality. The newspaper also became a major player in the publishing industry, introducing a computerized system for editing and printing that was ahead of its time.
As the world’s biggest metro daily, The Daily News covers everything from politics and culture to sports, health and business. Its website includes breaking news, multimedia and the latest information from around the world. In addition, the newspaper has a strong social media presence and has its own radio show.
Each article in The Daily News is accompanied by “Comprehension and Critical Thinking Questions” that help students understand what they read. The “Background” and “Resources” sections below the questions can further support student understanding.
The newspaper is available on the most popular platforms and can be subscribed to via email, web browser, app, or mobile device. Its print edition is distributed every morning to more than 1 million homes and businesses in New York and the surrounding region.
The newspaper is based in the News Building, a massive Art Deco structure at 220 East 42nd Street designed by Raymond Hood and John Mead Howells. It is an official city and national landmark. The building was later used as the inspiration for the Daily Planet building in the Superman film franchise. In 1995, the News moved from its Park Place location to a single floor office at 5 Manhattan West, but its 42nd Street home (also known as the News Building) remains open for tours. It currently houses the headquarters of WPIX-TV and other city organizations. The News Building is also the subject of a documentary film. The New York Times Company owns the Daily News.