The Daily News
The Daily News (also known as the New York Daily News) is an American tabloid newspaper based in New York City. Founded in 1919 by Joseph Medill Patterson and originally published as the Illustrated Daily News, it was the first successful tabloid newspaper in the United States and, at its peak, had the highest circulation of any paper in the world. The Daily News attracted readers by focusing on sensational stories of crime and scandal, social intrigue, and celebrity gossip. In addition, it devoted much attention to photography and was an early user of the Associated Press wirephoto service. Its building on 42nd Street near Second Avenue, designed by John Mead Howells and Raymond Hood, is an official city landmark.
The paper had a long history of clashing with its rival, the even more sensational New York Post, but continued to dominate until the 1980s. At the turn of the century, the Daily News faced a serious challenge from more modern media sources and suffered through a severe drop in readership. The News fought back, though, and returned to its sensational roots. By 1975, it could grab the public’s attention with headlines such as “Ford to City: Drop Dead.”
By 1978, the Daily News was suffering from declining sales and a multi-month strike by its employees. Though the strikes also affected its competitors, The New York Times and The New York Post, the Daily News was hit the hardest. The News lost 147 days of daily circulation, dropping to 800,000 copies per day. This was only a third of its heyday and, in the wake of these setbacks, the first cracks began to show in the News’ impenetrable exterior.
A few years later, the News was purchased by controversial British media mogul Robert Maxwell. Maxwell’s purchase was a result of his desire to acquire a large stake in the publishing business and expand the reach of his Daily Mirror tabloid. Maxwell successfully negotiated with the various unions to bring the 147-day strike to an end and began the process of turning around the struggling newspaper.
In the 1990s, the Daily News under the leadership of its editor-in-chief Pete Hamill and then Debby Krenek, developed a reputation for protecting the First Amendment and defending the rights of the people of New York City, especially those perceived to be without a voice. It won Pulitzer Prizes for E.R. Shipp’s pieces on race, welfare and social issues, and Mike McAlary’s coverage of police brutality against Haitian immigrant Abner Louima.
In 1995, the Daily News left its home of 65 years, the News Building at 220 East 42nd Street, to move into a single floor of 450 West 33rd Street (also known as 5 Manhattan West). The News launched its quarterly BET Weekend insert for African Americans and a monthly Caribbean Monthly insert. The Daily News also expanded its online presence, and in 1996, the paper launched its website.