The Daily News is an American tabloid newspaper founded in 1919 in New York City. It is the first tabloid newspaper in the United States, and was once the country’s most-circulated paper. Its early success stemmed in part from its sensational coverage of crime, scandal and violence, as well as its lurid photographs and other entertainment features.
During the first half of the 20th century, the Daily News engaged in a fierce circulation battle with its even more sensational rival, the New York Post. Nevertheless, the News continued to cover local news as well as national and international affairs.
In the midst of the Great Depression, when many traditional newspapers were failing, the Daily News became a lifeline for communities that had lost, or were in danger of losing, their local papers. It was also a platform for social action. The newspaper’s editorial staff worked to ensure that the paper reflected the views of its readers, and the newspaper often ran letters from those who felt strongly about political or social issues.
It was during this time that the Daily News became one of the most important voices in the fight for racial equality and other progressive causes. In addition to publishing the first ever editorial cartoon about black women, the Daily News also launched a series of investigative reports that focused on the mistreatment of black people by the police and other law enforcement agencies.
In this section, students read a variety of different news stories and answer comprehension and critical thinking questions that accompany each article. They can also access “Background” and “Resources” (including video clips, maps and links) below the questions to help them better understand the news story.
Each of the articles in this section contains a set of comprehension and critical thinking questions that require students to think deeply about what they read. The questions are aligned with the Common Core State Standards and are written by our expert teachers. In addition, each article includes a “Resources” section that provides background information and links to primary sources.
The Yale Daily News Historical Archive is a digital repository of over 140 years of daily reporting from the nation’s oldest college newspaper. It is a part of the Yale University Library and is open to the public. The archive is made possible by an anonymous gift from a Yale College alumnus. The Library gratefully acknowledges this support. A new version of the Yale Daily News Archive is available online. This version is redesigned for mobile devices, includes additional content from the Yale Daily News, and provides a better overall user experience. The new Yale Daily News Archive is now free to use and accessible worldwide. For more information, visit the Yale Daily News Archive website.