Founded in 1919 by Joseph Medill Patterson, former publisher of the Chicago Tribune, the Daily News quickly established itself as one of the country’s largest newspapers. Despite the competition from established dailies such as The New York Times and The New York Post, the Daily News’ smaller tabloid format and unique content helped to propel it into prominence. The newspaper focused on titillating, scandalous and edgy stories that resonated with the popular masses of the time; and emphasized photography, especially as it became an early user of the AP wirephoto service in the 1930s.
In addition to intense city news coverage, the Daily News also featured celebrity gossip, classified ads, comics and a sports section. Its illustrious staff of writers and columnists made it a must-read for those interested in politics, the arts, celebrity and social issues. By the mid-1940s, Daily News circulation had hit the one million mark. The brassy and pictorial newspaper earned a reputation as a leader of its day, and drew the attention of celebrities such as Ed Sullivan, who later hosted the popular TV show The Ed Sullivan Show.
The 1940s were a prosperous decade for the Daily News, and its popularity continued to grow as it expanded into national and international news. By the end of the decade, it had even earned a Pulitzer Prize for distinguished commentary, for E.R. Shipp’s pieces on race and welfare issues. During this period, the Daily News developed its a reputation for protecting the First Amendment as well as the rights of New York City’s citizens, especially those who were perceived as not having a voice in the community.
By the late 1980s, however, the Daily News was beginning to suffer from declining readership and financial woes. Then, in March 1991, controversial media mogul Robert Maxwell purchased the paper from the Tribune Company. His goal was to revitalize the newspaper and take it in a more conservative direction, a move that angered many of its loyal readers.
Maxwell hired editor-cum-interim James Willse to lead the Daily News. The two men fought over the future of the paper, and in January 1993 Maxwell finally sold it to Mort Zuckerman, owner of The Atlantic magazine and founder of Hollinger Inc., which owned the Chicago Sun-Times and Britain’s Daily Telegraph. The sale came after Maxwell successfully negotiated contracts with nine of the Daily News’ ten unions.
Today, the Daily News remains an important source of news in the New York metropolitan area and around the world. Its award-winning writers and columnists continue to bring the most up-to-date and pertinent news to its readers. The newspaper’s website provides extensive national and local news, live streaming of events and sports, New York exclusives, politics, gossip and more. The Daily News is available on multiple platforms, including a free mobile app, and its print edition is delivered Monday through Friday. The Yale Daily News is the nation’s oldest college newspaper, publishing Monday through Friday during the academic year. It is the only newspaper of its kind with an editorial independence from Yale’s administration.