Founded in 1919, the Daily News is the first tabloid newspaper ever published in the United States. It is the largest newspaper in New York City and has won eleven Pulitzer Prizes. The News’ bold style and investigative journalism have made it a favorite of many readers throughout the decades. It is also a staple for commuters on the subway, with its smaller size making it easy to read while on the move.
The News has a long history of supporting the rights of the poor and underprivileged. In the 1990s, it was reborn as a champion of the First Amendment and a protector of civil liberties. Under the leadership of editors-in-chief Pete Hamill and Debby Krenek, the Daily News became known for its coverage of social issues affecting the residents of New York City. The paper won a Pulitzer in 1996 for E.R. Shipp’s series on welfare and police brutality, and again in 1998 for Mike McAlary’s investigation into the beating of Haitian immigrant Abner Louima by NYPD officers.
In 1991, the paper was purchased by controversial British media mogul Robert Maxwell, who also owned the Mirror group of newspapers. The News had suffered a decline in its circulation following a multi-month labor strike that closed down the paper and slashed readership to less than half its 1940s peak. Maxwell reworked the editorial stance of the News, which had previously been a staunch Republican paper. The reborn Daily News now leaned more to the left with an editorial stance described by The Times as “flexibly centrist, with a high-minded if populist legacy.”
Local news stories can be very powerful for capturing a reader’s interest and empathy. It’s important to look at the local landscape and identify a story that can make a difference in your community.
While there are always national and international issues that need to be addressed, it’s vital for journalists to take a closer look at the needs of their local communities. Writers can help bring attention to a cause or issue by using their voice and writing style to inform, educate and inspire people to get involved.
Personal interest nonfiction articles are another way for journalists to share stories that have a strong impact on their audience. By writing about a local small business owner or a nurse who moonlights as a high school mascot, reporters can showcase the diversity of people in their community.
The Yale Daily News is the nation’s oldest college newspaper and is financially independent of the university. It is distributed Monday through Friday during the academic year. The paper is free to all members of the Yale community, and is available in print, online and on social media platforms. The newspaper has a dedicated staff of journalists and features stories correlated to national standards for ELA, science, social studies and SEL. The paper also publishes a weekly News-O-Matic unit that features stories from the NewsHour and special issues celebrating Yale’s Indigenous, Black, AAPI and Latinx communities.