The Daily News
The Daily News has been a pillar of New York City journalism for more than a century. It is the nation’s first tabloid newspaper, as well as the first to reach a circulation of more than 200,000 copies. In addition to its newspaper, the company also publishes magazines, comics, and other news articles. Since its inception, the New York Daily News has cast a watchful eye over the city’s five boroughs.
Aside from its famous and notorious celebrity correspondents, the Daily News also made a splash in the field of photography. During the Great Depression, the newsroom honed its skills, utilizing the Associated Press wirephoto service. Although the New York Daily News did not become the next Los Angeles Times, it did enjoy a golden age of celebrity reporting in the ’30s, ’40s, and ’50s. Some of its most recognizable names include Clark Kent and Lois Lane, Jack Benny, and Frank Sinatra.
However, in the wake of the Great Depression, the Daily News’ circulation dropped by nearly half and it was forced to make some drastic measures. At the helm of the paper was a media mogul. Mortimer B. Zuckerman, a real estate developer and a veteran of the newspaper industry, was chairman and copublisher. He helped the Daily News grow to an impressive 2.4 million copies per day in 1947, making it one of the top selling newspapers in the country. After his death in 1993, the paper was bought out by Chicago-based media mogul Tronc.
As part of the deal, Tronc agreed to pay $1 for the Daily News. They also took over its liabilities. One year later, the paper’s main office was closed in Lower Manhattan. Another former headquarters, located at 450 West 33rd Street, became the world headquarters of the Associated Press.
The Daily News has won a number of honors, including a Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. Along with its daily newspaper, the company produces a wide variety of other publications, including a popular radio program and a television show. These include WPIX-FM, which was converted into WFAN-FM, and a series of local weekly newspapers. Also based in Lower Manhattan is the Daily News subsidiary, WPIX-TV.
The Daily News has a few enticing offerings in the digital realm. On one hand, there is the interactive edition, which allows readers to access the newspaper from any desktop or mobile device. There are also online games, puzzles, and other digital goodies.
Other laudable efforts from the Daily News include the use of an optical scanning system to digitize paper editions. As of this writing, the paper’s circulation numbers haven’t changed much. But it remains to be seen what the future holds for the once mighty paper.
Despite its financial woes, the Daily News has managed to retain its reputation as a newsy stalwart. In recent years, it has gained a reputation for being a moderate, liberal alternative to the venerable right-wing New York Post. It has also been a proving ground for numerous news media gurus, and it has given comfort to a few.