Daily News is a morning tabloid newspaper in New York City. It is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States. It reaches over 3.5 million readers. The paper covers culture, science, sports, politics, business, and more. It is known for its unbiased content.
It was founded in 1919. It became the first successful tabloid newspaper in the United States. It attracted readers with sensational coverage of crime and scandal, lurid photographs, and cartoons and entertainment features. By 1930 it had the largest circulation of any newspaper in the world.
The newspaper was a staunch advocate for the rights of the citizens of New York City, especially those who were perceived as not having a voice in the city government. It also had a reputation for investigative reporting, particularly on issues of corruption. Under the leadership of editor-in-chief Pete Hamill and then Debby Krenek, the Daily News developed a strong focus on human interest stories. It also won a Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing.
In 1975, the newspaper rolled out what would become its most famous headline. It followed President Ford’s speech vetoing a bankruptcy bailout for New York City, and read: “FORD TO CITY: DROP DEAD.” The front page grabbed public attention and the paper soon gained a reputation as “The Eyes, the Ears, the Honest Voice of New York.”
By the end of the 1980s, however, the Daily News was suffering large financial losses. Labor costs, particularly for unionized employees, were swallowing up to 44 percent of revenue. Moreover, the paper was in a fierce circulation battle with its even more sensational rival tabloid competitor, the New York Post.
In 1991, Maxwell died in an airplane crash at age 77. His newspaper empire was in debt, and the Daily News filed for bankruptcy a month later. It was bought by publisher Mort Zuckerman, who invested $60 million in color presses to make the paper competitive with USA Today. The paper moved from its iconic News Building on 42nd Street and Second Avenue (an official city landmark designed by John Mead Howells and Raymond Hood) to a single floor office at 5 Manhattan West in 1995.
Each Daily News article includes comprehension and critical thinking questions, as well as “Background” and “Resources” for further study. These can be found below the question section and will help students understand the news story better. You can also sign up to receive a daily email with the answers to these questions. This free service helps educators use the Yale Daily News in their classrooms. For more information on the Yale Daily News, please visit the YDN Rights and Permissions site.