The Daily News has been a major force in New York City journalism for over a century. A tabloid with a vengeance, it has been a major source of ink for a wide swath of the city’s journalists. During its heyday, the publication enjoyed the largest circulation of any newspaper in the nation. Among other things, it was also the first tabloid to produce a daily printed magazine.
Its ubiquity made it the model for the likes of the New York Post and other rags. In fact, it had a circulation of more than 1.5 million by the early 1930s, and by the mid-1970s, it had a circulation of more than 2 million. This was a far cry from the early 1900s, when it was only a small-time competitor to the larger and better-established Daily Press.
During the 1940s, the Daily News became a staunchly Republican paper. At the same time, it was a major proponent of isolationism during World War II. Nevertheless, the newspaper was a major player in a long-running battle to win New York City’s attention. As a result, it produced an impressive array of newsworthy items.
Among the most memorable was a photo of an execution, headlined “DEAD!”. A reporter strapped a camera to his leg and snapped the picture. Although it is not a particularly striking image, the Daily News was actually the first to produce a photo with this level of detail.
The Daily News also boasted a slew of other innovations. For instance, in the 1990s, the paper was the first to use the Associated Press wirephoto service. Similarly, the paper was one of the first to adopt the now ubiquitous WPIX radio station. The latter is now owned by CBS Radio, while the former is now part of Emmis Communications. Even though the Daily News was not the most efficient company in the world, its staff of some 250 journalists worked tirelessly to keep the paper afloat.
The Daily News was the brainchild of real estate tycoon Mortimer B. Zuckerman, who has been involved in a number of other media companies. He was also the first president of the company, which was later renamed to the New York Daily News Company. Today, the company publishes newspapers, magazines, books, and other articles. It also runs local bureaus in the Bronx and Brooklyn, and operates a radio station and television station.
While the Daily News has been in financial trouble for many years, it has been a force to be reckoned with in the world of New York City journalism. Despite the current challenges, the newspaper’s mission of chronicling the quirks and glories of New York continues. With the newfound digital tools available to newsroom workers, the paper is primed for the future.
Among its other accomplishments are eleven Pulitzer Prizes, numerous honorable mentions and a slew of awards for sports coverage. Unlike other newspapers that are stuck in a rut, the Daily News is able to remain relevant.