The Daily News
The Daily News, founded in 1919, was the first American newspaper printed in tabloid format. Currently, the paper is owned by tronc and has a reputation for investigative journalism and a liberal political leaning. The New York Daily News is also known for its bold headlines and sensational pictorial coverage. In addition to its city news coverage, it offers celebrity gossip, classified ads, comics, and a sports section. The New York Daily News is a great source for local stories about high school events and politics, and it’s a good source to follow trends in the city.
The 1920s was a decade of great prosperity for the Daily News. Its success was largely due to its sensational pictorial coverage. A typical front page included such scandals as the Teapot Dome Scandal and social intrigues such as the romance between Wallis Simpson and King Edward VIII that led to his abdication. The paper also specialized in photojournalism; it was an early user of the Associated Press wirephoto service and employed a large staff of photographers.
By the end of the 1920s, the Daily News had a circulation of 1.5 million and commissioned architect Raymond Hood to design a headquarters that would be nicknamed the News Building. The structure straddled the tracks that ran into Pennsylvania Station and was a familiar sight to many commuters. The building was later the location of a number of famous Hollywood movies.
After the depression and World War II, the Daily News continued to grow in readership and revenue. In 1947, the News reached its highest circulation with 2.4 million daily and 4.7 million Sunday editions. It also became the most recognizable tabloid in the country, earning its reputation as “the brassy pictorial Daily News leads all the others”.
As the News continued to prosper, it expanded beyond its traditional New York city roots. It began publishing the weekly black-oriented insert BET Weekend in 1996 and the monthly Caribbean Monthly in 1998. It also established its editorial positions on social issues and won a Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Commentary in 1996 for E.R. Shipp’s pieces on race and welfare.
In the late 1990s, under the leadership of new editors-in-chief (first Pete Hamill and then Debby Krenek), the Daily News reclaimed its reputation as a champion for the First Amendment and the rights of New York City’s citizens, particularly those who were underrepresented. It also began to publish articles about local government and public affairs, a practice that continues to this day. The Daily News is also a leader in showcasing the best of collaborative journalism and community engagement, with projects such as its national-local partnerships in voter registration, the iReport and a series on the impact of public policies on residents of color. The News is a highly credible and reliable news source, but it’s not immune to the effects of online media and changing reader habits.