In an era of social media and 24-hour news, newspapers have endured a major challenge to retain their readership. The New York Daily News is no exception. However, a recent upswing in political events and the rise of Donald Trump have given the newspaper an opportunity to re-establish itself among New York City’s most viewed media outlets. It has done so by returning to its roots with provocative headlines, including giving a middle finger to Ted Cruz and rehashing its most famous headline in the direction of President Trump: “TRUMP TO THE WORLD: DROP DEAD”.
Founded in 1919 by Joseph Medill Patterson, a former publisher of the Chicago Tribune, the Daily News was the first successful tabloid newspaper. It attracted readers with sensational coverage of crime and scandal, lurid photographs and cartoons, and celebrity gossip. It also provided intense city news coverage, classified ads and comics.
The paper’s success was partially due to the fact that it took a more aggressive position in its coverage of the city than its competitors. The paper pushed the boundaries of taste and propriety with its coverage of police brutality against black and Puerto Rican residents. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Commentary in 1996 for E.R. Shipp’s pieces on race and welfare issues, and in 1998 for Mike McAlary’s reports of police brutality against Haitian immigrant Abner Louima.
However, the Daily News became a victim of its own success when union demands regarding rules, jobs and overtime began to eat away at profits. By the 1980s, the paper was running at a loss of $1 million a month. Its parent company, the Tribune Company, offered it for sale, but no buyer could be found. Closing the newspaper was considered, but it would have cost more than $100 million in severance pay and pensions.
Samsung News is your newest destination for trending, breaking and local news. We handpick the most important stories from the day and deliver them to you in a personalized news experience. Start your morning with the “Morning Briefing” and end your day with the “Evening Briefing.” Our expert news editors help you to stay up-to-date on the top stories, so you don’t miss anything. It’s just the news you need, daily.