The Daily News
Founded in 1919 by Joseph Medill Patterson as the Illustrated Daily News, the New York City-based newspaper is renowned for its bold journalism and commitment to New York city. Today, the Daily News is known for breaking news stories, in-depth investigations, politics, sports and celebrity gossip. It also offers intense city news coverage, classified ads and a robust website. It is owned by Tribune Publishing.
Despite a brief period of decline, the Daily News reached its peak in 1947 with circulation of 2.4 million copies per day, putting it on top among American newspapers. Its brassy, pictorial style and a focus on social intrigue and political wrongdoing made it particularly popular during this time. It was an early user of the Associated Press wirephoto service and employed a large staff of photographers.
It also had a reputation for being unafraid to publish stories that some other papers shied away from, such as the scandal surrounding Wallis Simpson and her relationship with King Edward VIII that eventually led to his abdication. The paper was a pioneer in tabloid journalism and one of the first to feature photographs on its front page, as well as being an early adopter of color photography.
The newspaper remained highly influential and successful until the 1980s when it began to lose money as readers turned to the internet for their news and advertisers shifted their budgets to the digital realm. The loss was exacerbated by the newspaper’s inability to negotiate with its union workers. Union costs were swallowing 44 percent of the newspaper’s revenue by the early 1990s and the Daily News was reportedly losing $1 million per month.
In 1991, controversial British media mogul Robert Maxwell purchased the Daily News and brought it back to profitability. He also established WPIX, a local television station with the call letters based on the newspaper’s nickname of “New York’s Picture Newspaper.” The station remains in the building it was built in.
Each day, a new story is published on the Daily News web site, including articles on politics, crime, sports and entertainment. In addition, the Daily News features opinion pieces and an extensive photo gallery.
Despite being a major source of information, it has been subject to accusations of bias and inaccuracy. In a study by the media watchdog group Fairfax, the Daily News was given a Skews Left rating and was ranked as “Reliable” for its analysis/fact reporting and “Not Fair” in terms of balance and impartiality.
Regardless of its reliability, the Daily News has long been a household name that has entertained and informed millions. It has a rich history that includes its founding in 1919 and the creation of the first tabloid newspaper in America. In a city that is as vibrant and diverse as the paper itself, the Daily News has become an institution that has contributed to the city’s culture and history. The city is proud of the newspaper and looks forward to its continued success in the future.