Founded in 1919, the Daily News was the first American daily printed in tabloid format. It grew to have the highest circulation of any newspaper in the country at one point, attracting readers with sensational coverage of crime and scandal, lurid photographs, and other entertainment features. In the decades leading up to the end of World War II, the paper espoused a conservative populist philosophy and frequently attacked its rival, the more liberal New York Post.
The News also emphasized political wrongdoing in the Teapot Dome Scandal, social intrigue such as Wallis Simpson’s romance with King Edward VIII (which led to the latter’s abdication), and other events of the time. It was an early user of the Associated Press wirephoto service and had a large staff of photographers.
By the 1970s, however, its circulation had begun to decline. In 1975 the newspaper made national headlines when it erroneously reported that New York Mayor Robert Wagner had ordered Ruth Snyder to be executed, prompting a public outcry and leading to an investigation that found the error.
Until 1995 the newspaper was headquartered in 220 East 42nd Street, an art deco building designed by John Mead Howells and Raymond Hood. This building later became the Manhattan West complex and now houses the headquarters of AP and WPIX-TV. Today’s Daily News includes intense city news coverage, celebrity gossip, classified ads, sports and opinion sections. In addition to its newspaper, the News maintains websites and operates a number of television and radio stations.
About the Author
