In its 20th-century heyday, Daily News was a brawny metro tabloid that dug into crime and corruption. The paper won Pulitzer Prizes in commentary and feature writing and was the model for the newspaper depicted in the first two Superman movies. Today, it’s a struggling, embattled newspaper that faces an uncertain future.
In the aftermath of the SCOTUS decision on affirmative action, the Daily News explores how universities are thinking about their admissions policies. The News walks through critical questions about future admissions models at selective colleges and universities, as well as the impact of the decision on legacy and donor-related applicants.
The New York City borough of Queens is home to the Daily News and several other major newspapers. In the borough’s northeastern section, on the border with the Bronx, the Daily News headquarters stands at 220 East 42nd Street, an official city and national landmark designed by John Mead Howells and Raymond Hood. The building was later replaced at 450 West 33rd Street (also known as Manhattan West), and the former News subsidiary WPIX-TV remains there now.
The Daily News has been in decline for years, with declining circulation and a loss of advertising revenue. In 2017, it was bought by Tribune Publishing, the parent company of the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune, for $1. The newspaper has been under the leadership of Editor-in-Chief Dean Baquet and Executive Editor Marc Lacey since then. The editorial staff has been trimmed, and the paper is experimenting with different sections.
Donald Bertrand started out loading newspapers onto delivery trucks to launch his 50-year career at the Daily News as a reporter and editor. In recent months, the newspaper has seen significant layoffs and reduced staff, but Bertrand says it’s not necessarily a sign of things to come.
Among the biggest challenges facing the Daily News is the decline of print advertising. Readers are increasingly turning to digital platforms to get their news. That has forced the Daily News to rethink its approach to storytelling, focusing on local content and emphasizing digital growth.
In its heyday, the Daily News was known for its lurid headlines and a style that pushed the envelope of what could be said in a newspaper. One of its most famous headlines, from 1975, screamed, “Ford to City: Drop Dead!”
Today, the Daily News is not quite as provocative or lurid, but it continues to report on high-profile murders and other crimes. It also carries intense city news coverage, celebrity gossip, classified ads, comics and a strong sports section. The newspaper’s digital presence is a key part of its business strategy and a focus for its editors. The newspaper’s website has more than 30 million visits a month. In addition, the Daily News has an active social media presence and produces a popular podcast. The Daily News is a division of the New York Media Group, which also includes online-only properties and television and radio channels.
