The Daily News, founded in 1919, was the first successful tabloid newspaper in America. Originally a subsidiary of the Tribune Company of Chicago, it attracted readers with sensational pictorial coverage and lurid photographs. It also ran a variety of popular cartoons and entertainment features. By the 1930s, the News had a circulation of more than 2,000,000 daily and was the nation’s largest newspaper.
The News continued to be a leader in its industry throughout the mid-20th century, publishing the first-ever picture of the Holocaust and using the Associated Press wirephoto service for its national news coverage. Its circulation hit its peak in 1947, when it boasted a daily circulation of more than 2.4 million.
In 1928, a News reporter went one step further than its competitors by strapping a small hidden camera to his leg while observing the electrocution of Ruth Snyder, a woman sent to the electric chair for murdering her husband. The News published the next day’s front page with the headline “DEAD!” The resulting photograph became famous and helped to launch the modern era of tabloid journalism.
As times changed, the Daily News struggled to keep up with a new generation of readers, who preferred the instantaneity of online and mobile news. By the early 2000s, it had lost its status as a leading local newspaper in New York City and was no longer a front-runner among its rivals.
It was during this time that the Daily News began to experiment with a style that more closely resembled its original roots. Its editorial staff sought to regain its position as a dominant voice in New York City’s media landscape, and they did so by using a provocative tone, rehashing its most famous headline, and giving political figures the middle finger with the Statue of Liberty’s hand.
In 1990, the Daily News faced its biggest challenge ever when ten unions struck over issues of rules, pay, and overtime. The News kept publishing by hiring non-union replacement workers, but at a loss of over $1 million a month.
Despite the losses, the Daily News continues to operate as a print publication and is available at many New York City area stores and online. The paper is a founding member of the New York News Exchange and has a long history of collaboration with other regional media organizations.
The Hayward Public Library has an extensive collection of historic and current newspapers, including the Daily News. You can access these articles at no charge with your Hayward Library card. Just follow the links below. The Hayward Library has subscribed to the following online news databases, which contain many of these historic and recent articles. If you have a library card, you can log in and then search the database for the article you need. If you do not have a library card, you can request one here.