The Daily News is a morning, afternoon, and evening tabloid newspaper that is based in New York City. It was founded in 1919 by Joseph Medill Patterson as the Illustrated Daily News and later renamed to the Daily News. It reached its peak circulation in 1947 and as of 2019,[update] is the eleventh-highest circulated newspaper in the United States.
The paper was a major force in the development of American mass media during the twentieth century, and it had an enormous influence on public opinion. It dominated the national press scene during World War II, and its readers often criticized their government for its policies. It was also one of the first publications to use Associated Press wirephoto service, and it developed a large staff of photographers.
Its coverage was dominated by sensational stories of crime, scandal, and violence. These stories, accompanied by lurid photographs and cartoons, were a main draw for readers who were eager to learn about the latest happenings in the world.
At its height, the News had a weekday circulation of more than 2 million copies and a Sunday circulation of 4.5 million. In fact, it was the largest circulated newspaper in the United States at one time.
Although it was a conservative newspaper, the Daily News also advocated for New Yorkers’ interests. This included housing, transit, and quality-of-life issues. It favored easing restrictions on development, letting the police do their jobs, and inviting private enterprise to provide some city services. It also fought for tax relief and legalized gambling as alternative forms of revenue generation.
Its stance was primarily centrist, though it occasionally went to extremes. Its editors endorsed Republican candidates for president, and it supported the idea of a national lottery (a measure that was never enacted).
In contrast to other newspapers at the time, it made no effort to hide its political leanings. In fact, Life magazine praised the paper as one of the best in the country.
The Daily News, however, had a reputation for anti-Semitism. John O’Donnell, the paper’s Capitol Stuff columnist, published an incendiary anti-Semitic article in 1945 that portrayed Jewish leaders as scheming political tycoons who used their money to undermine the United States.
This paper is still around, but its readership has declined dramatically since its heyday in the 1940s and 1950s. It has also been absorbed by other media companies and is not available in many areas.
As a result, it has lost its popularity as a mainstream newspaper and has been replaced by other news sources. In particular, the New York Post has become an important competitor for the paper.
While the Daily News still has a good deal of circulation, it is no longer the primary source of news for many people in New York City. It has become a tad too cluttered and clumsy to read for many, especially those who rely on digital media exclusively.
The Daily News has a long history of supporting conservative politicians and opposing progressive ones, but it is no longer the dominant force in the New York news landscape. It has, however, become an influential voice in New York political discourse.