The Daily News is a tabloid newspaper founded in 1919 as the first U.S. daily printed in tabloid format, and at its peak was the ninth-highest circulated newspaper in the country. Today, the New York City-based paper is owned by Tronc, formerly Tribune Publishing, and is headquartered in the historic art deco Daily News building in lower Manhattan. The paper is regarded as having a liberal to moderate stance and has been historically compared with the rival New York Post, which is considered more conservative.
During its heyday, the Daily News was renowned for its investigative reporting and sensational coverage of crime and scandal, as well as lurid photographs, and entertainment features. In the 1920s, the paper was among the first to publish photos of a crime scene (see photojournalism) and also the first to have its stories broken by radio. The News was the first major newspaper to carry color photography in a regular section and in a cover story, and the first to run a comics section.
The paper is also noted for its long-running investigation of the United States Senate’s Teapot Dome scandal in 1921, which resulted in impeachment of President Warren G. Harding. The News was also the first major newspaper to expose the use of a drug in prisons, and its reporter William S. Parsons smuggled drugs into the prisons of the U.S. Marshals Service and later testified at the trial of one of the indictees. The paper was also the first to print a front-page photo of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865, and it was the first to use the word “election” in a headline when reporting on that year’s presidential campaign.
In addition to the main edition, the Daily News produces several special issues each year, including the Yale-Harvard Game Day Issue and the Commencement Issue. It also publishes the weekly Friday supplement known as WKND and a variety of special editions in collaboration with Yale’s cultural centers and affiliated student groups.
While the Daily News has traditionally exhibited a liberal slant, it has shifted leftward in recent years as the Democratic Party’s base of support has grown. The newspaper has criticized Donald Trump’s presidency and pushed back against claims that it has a pro-Trump bias, while at the same time seeking to reach a wider audience by embracing liberal politics.
Each Daily News article includes comprehension and critical thinking questions, which appear below the main text and are accompanied by “Background” and “Resources” sections. These resources can help students understand the background and context behind each story and further explore the topic of daily news. Each article also has a Share button that allows users to easily share the content on social media. Please note that while we do our best to keep this tool working properly, there may be times when the tool is unavailable or experiences issues. If you encounter a problem, we encourage you to contact us and we will be happy to assist you.