The Daily News is a morning tabloid newspaper founded in 1919 by Joseph Medill Patterson and initially published as the Illustrated Daily News in New York City. It became the first successful tabloid in the United States and, at its peak in 1947, was one of the largest newspapers in the world with a circulation of over 2.4 million copies per day. It influenced other tabloids around the country and the world and established a style of journalism that is now widely adopted.
The New York Daily News has a long history of embracing innovative technology in its reporting and distribution. It was the first paper to offer a wire photo service and was among the first to produce an electronic typesetting machine for use in producing its printed editions. In addition to its traditional print media, the Daily News also maintains a website and an interactive digital newspaper.
Daily news articles feature current international and domestic news, including politics, national and local news, the latest celebrity gossip, sports and business, and opinions from a broad range of voices. Each article includes comprehension and critical thinking questions, as well as “Background” and “Resources” (including video clips, maps and links) to provide students with additional information and enhance understanding.
In addition to its intense coverage of city news, the Daily News carries a strong focus on celebrities, sports and other popular topics that appeal to many readers. It is the only major daily in New York City to have a dedicated staff of sports journalists, and it is the newspaper of choice for fans of the Yankees, Mets, Giants and Jets. The newspaper also maintains a large staff of photographers.
At its zenith, the newspaper was known for its sensational crime and scandal stories, lurid photographs, and entertainment features. It once maintained a large headquarters in the Daily News Building, which straddled the railroad tracks into Pennsylvania Station. In 1948, the News helped establish the television station WPIX, whose call letters were based on the Daily News’ nickname for itself; and in 1964, it started a radio station called WFAN-FM, which still operates at the former newspaper offices.
The Yale Daily News Historical Archive provides access to digitized versions of printed issues of the newspaper, published Monday through Friday during the academic year at Yale University. The archive contains over 140 years of YDN reporting and is available to anyone with an internet connection. The archive was made possible through a gift from an anonymous Yale alumnus.