The New York Daily News is a tabloid newspaper founded in 1919, and the first daily newspaper published in the United States to use the tabloid format. It is owned by tronc, and based in Manhattan. The newspaper is renowned for its sensational coverage of crime and politics, its extensive use of photography, and its cartoons. The paper is also known for its high readership levels and has a long history of competing with its rival, the New York Post.
Originally called the Illustrated Daily News, it became the Daily News in 1929 and was the first successful tabloid newspaper in the United States. The newspaper attracted readers with its scandalous stories of crime and corruption, and celebrity gossip such as the romance between Wallis Simpson and King Edward VIII that led to his abdication. The Daily News also covered political events such as the Teapot Dome scandal and the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt. The newspaper was an early user of AP wirephoto and developed a staff of photographers.
Its editorial stance has been described as flexibly centrist, although it leaned more to the right in its early years. During the 1940s, it favored isolationism, and from the 1960s through the 1970s, it favored conservative populism. In the 1990s, it shifted to a moderate-to-liberal stance. In recent years, the Daily News has a reputation for a liberal bias, often in contrast to its right-wing competitor, the New York Post.
In addition to its regular sections, the Daily News frequently publishes special issues such as commemorative editions on historic events, special-interest subjects (e.g., holidays), and anniversary editions of important figures or events. These special editions are available for purchase separately from the regular daily issue.
Using the ProQuest Northeast Regional Historical Newspapers Collection, users can access full-text and page images from the New York Daily News and other newspapers from the northeastern United States. The database includes both full-text articles and clipped individual news stories, photographs, and cartoons.
The New York Times Digital Archive allows users to explore the complete text of the The New York Times, from its founding in 1851 to the present. The database provides access to full-text articles, page images, and a variety of additional resources that make the archive an invaluable resource for researchers, students, historians, and anyone interested in American culture.
Each Daily News article contains comprehension and critical thinking questions, found below the main story. There are also “Background” and “Resources” (including video clips, maps, and links) provided to help readers understand the context and background of each news story. The Daily News is also home to the “Tweet of the Day,” an alert for each of the top five trending stories each day, which features the most tweeted topics and headlines from the newspaper.
For more information, see the Guide to ProQuest Northeast Regional Historical Newspapers Collection. For additional research needs, the Library also offers a range of other databases, including the Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers and WorldCat.