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Founded in 1919 as the Illustrated Daily News, it was a successful tabloid newspaper that attracted readers with sensational pictorial coverage of crime and scandal and titillating front page news such as a 1928 story featuring Ruth Snyder mid-electrocution. It was also an early user of the Associated Press wirephoto service and developed a large staff of photographers.
By the middle of the Roaring Twenties, Daily News circulation had reached a million per day. By the 1940s, it had surpassed all rivals in size and was one of the nation’s most widely read newspapers. The Daily News’s success during this time can be attributed to its ability to attract the attention of New Yorkers, who loved their brassy and pictorial newspaper. The paper focused on political wrongdoing like the Teapot Dome Scandal and social intrigue such as the romance between Wallis Simpson and King Edward VIII that led to his abdication. The Daily News was also a strong contender in the world of sports and devoted much attention to photography.
In addition to the main newspaper, the Daily News published several inserts including the Caribbean Monthly and BET Weekend. The Daily News was also an early adopter of television in 1948, establishing the city’s fifth television station WPIX whose call letters were based on its nickname. The Daily News also maintained a number of local bureaus and an office within One Police Plaza in the heart of Manhattan.
By 1980, the Daily News was no longer profitable and had been losing $1 million a month. At this point, the newspaper’s parent company offered to sell it, but was unable to find a buyer. Closing the Daily News altogether was considered but was not feasible due to severance pay and pensions that would have cost more than $100 million.
The following year, the Daily News was bought by businessman Mortimer Zuckerman, who repositioned the newspaper as “New York’s serious tabloid”. To improve the newspaper’s visual appeal, Zuckerman invested $60 million in color presses and revamped its style guides. The Daily News once again became a daily newspaper with a substantial circulation, though it was still well below its peak in the mid-century.
Each daily news article contains comprehension and critical thinking questions that are a great way to reinforce key concepts and help students understand the information. To access the questions, sign up for our daily newsletter and you’ll receive a link to the questions in your email each morning. The questions can also be accessed from the Teacher Resources section on our website.
