Founded in 1919 as the Illustrated Daily News by Joseph Medill Patterson, it was the first successful tabloid newspaper in the United States. It attracted readers with sensational coverage of crime, scandal and violence, lurid photographs, and cartoons and entertainment features. The News was long locked in a circulation battle with its even more sensational hometown rival, the New York Post, and in recent years it has struggled to adapt to changes in how people read the news.
The News has won numerous awards, including several Pulitzer Prizes for public service. This year, it won the prize for investigative reporting along with ProPublica for uncovering the way authorities in New York City used a law to evict families from their homes. The News has also been nominated for several other Pulitzer Prizes.
It has a dedicated staff of journalists and editors, most of whom have been with the paper for decades. Its writers have included such prominent figures as Jimmy Breslin, Pete Hamill and Liz Smith.
Today, the News is a morning and evening newspaper that covers breaking news, in-depth investigative reports, politics, sports, entertainment and culture, and trending stories. Its commitment to New York City, engaging storytelling and strong visual content has earned it a reputation as a leading source of local news in the Big Apple.
The Daily News is available on all major platforms, including desktop, tablet, mobile and social media. In addition to the traditional print edition, it offers a comprehensive digital experience with video and interactive graphics. It also has an extensive collection of historic photographs, maps and audio recordings that have been digitized. Its website has been a top destination for local news and information for over 20 years.
As of 2019, the News has a circulation of approximately 100,000 daily copies and is the largest newspaper in the Metropolitan New York area. Its websites attract over a million unique visitors per month. Its mobile apps are downloaded more than 1 million times. The News is known for its bold journalism, commitment to New York City and its community, and a dedication to investigative reporting.
As of January 2020, the Daily News is owned by Tronc, which was formed in 2011 through the merger of Tribune Publishing Company and The New York Times Company. Tronc has said it is committed to maintaining the quality of the News’ journalism. The News’ editorial and business operations are located in a landmark building at 220 East 42nd Street, designed by John Mead Howells and Raymond Hood, that is an official city and national landmark. The building served as the model for the Daily Planet building in the first two Superman films. It is now home to a television station called WPIX. In 2021, an anonymous Yale alumnus donated to support the continuing work of the Yale Daily News Historical Archive project. This gift facilitated the migration of the Archive to a modern and user-friendly platform, made it possible to add additional issues of the archive, and will help sustain its ongoing maintenance.
