If you live in or around the metropolitan area of New York, then you are most likely familiar with The Daily News, which has been covering the city’s news and events for over a century. It is a tabloid newspaper, and one of the most popular in the nation. However, the newsroom has been in financial trouble for decades. A few months ago, Tribune Publishing bought the paper for a dollar, and since then, employees have been on furloughs.
One of the first tabloids in the United States, the New York Daily News was established in 1919 as Illustrated Daily News. After a few months, the name was changed to Daily News, and it was a major player in the circulation battle.
The paper’s success came in part from its ability to dig into crime and corruption, as well as its lurid photographs. By 1930, the circulation had reached 1.5 million copies a day. As the world entered the second half of the twentieth century, the Daily News was also known for its cartoons, which it used to attract a broader range of readers.
In the 1960s, the Daily News was a staunchly conservative, Republican newspaper. It became a model for other tabloids, including the 1994 movie “The Paper.” Along the way, it won eleven Pulitzer Prizes for commentary and feature writing.
It was also a leader in sports coverage, and the paper was a pioneer in its use of the Associated Press wirephoto service. When the Daily News moved to its new headquarters on East 42nd Street in the mid-1970s, legendary boxing writer Jimmy Cannon sat on the bench. Later, dozens of Daily News mainstays sat on it.
In Death of the Daily News, author Andrew Conte provides readers with a glimpse of what it is like to lose a local newspaper. In the process, he explores the impact of losing a community’s local newspaper and explains why it is important to keep local news alive.
This book is written with empathy and a clear, direct voice. It is a great book for ordinary citizens and scholars alike. Rather than just talking about the demise of the Daily News, Conte goes deeper, looking at the ways the newspaper survived, how technology has impacted journalism, and how the public can learn to make sense of the information they get.
Despite its troubles, the Daily News has maintained its commitment to chronicling life in New York. Today, the newspaper’s interactive edition is available for computers and mobile devices. Users can swipe through pages, share stories through email, and even download an offline edition of the newspaper. For fans of the newspaper, there is also an app for iOS and Android.
The Daily News has become a staple in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. Readers there appreciate its international reporting and its bold presentation. And while the paper has faced significant financial difficulties over the years, it has also been a successful and award-winning tabloid.