Founded in 1919, the Daily News is a New York City-based American newspaper. It is known for its bold journalism, commitment to New York City, and engaging storytelling. The paper delivers a mix of breaking news, in-depth investigations, politics, sports, entertainment and culture, as well as community news. The Daily News is also renowned for its visual content and social media presence. The newspaper is owned by tronc, which acquired the Daily News and other Tribune Company properties in 2017.
The Daily News is a major source of information about New York City and its metropolitan area. The paper is noted for its commitment to local reporting, notably its extensive coverage of the AIDS epidemic in the early 1990s. Its current editorial positions are moderate-to-liberal in tone and is often contrasted with the more right-leaning rival New York Post.
In addition to its print edition, the Daily News maintains a number of online platforms, including its website and mobile apps. The newspaper is free to read, but subscriptions are required for access to some premium features. The newspaper has also been criticized for its controversial cover images and inflammatory political commentary.
Since its inception, the newspaper has maintained offices throughout the five boroughs of New York City. In the 1940s, it launched a television station called WPIX (Channel 11 in New York City), with call letters based on its nickname, and purchased what was then an AM radio station, WOR-AM. Both stations are still headquartered in the Daily News building in Manhattan.
The News was a leading national newspaper in its heyday, in the 1950s and 1960s. It was a pioneer in using the Associated Press wire service and had a large staff of photographers. It was an early champion of tabloid news, paving the way for its rival, The New York Post. Its brassy, pictorial style was a dominant force in the industry, and it earned the praise of Time magazine: “The brassy, pictorial Daily News leads all other newspapers.”
In 1991, controversial British media mogul Robert Maxwell bought the newspaper. A few years later, he ran the Daily News into the ground, causing it to lose hundreds of millions of dollars. He was eventually forced to sell the newspaper for less than its worth to businessman Mort Zuckerman, who negotiated contracts with nine of the Daily News’s ten unions and saved the company from collapse.
Despite the newspaper’s recent financial difficulties, it remains an important part of New York City life. Its website has a number of interactive and educational features, such as an online comic strip and a quiz on the history of New York City. The website also provides a wide variety of resources for students, including historical maps and a timeline. In 2021, an anonymous Yale alumnus made a gift to the Library that enables it to continue maintaining and improving this unique resource for the public. This allowed for the expansion of the archive to include issues from 1996 to the present.
