Founded in 1919 by Joseph Medill Patterson as the Illustrated Daily News, the New York Daily News was the first successful tabloid newspaper in the United States. The paper drew readers with sensational coverage of crime and scandal, lurid photographs, and cartoons. The News competed fiercely with the rival New York Post, and by the end of the 20th century its circulation had diminished from its peak in the mid-1950s. In 2017, the News was sold to Tronc, which renamed it the Daily Beast.
The ITN Video Archive is a unique and remarkable repository of British cultural history, featuring iconic news footage from the early days of broadcasting to the present day. The archive provides unprecedented access to important and memorable events, such as the fall of the Berlin Wall, Nelson Mandela in hiding, and Royal engagements. The collection is updated daily with agenda-setting news footage.
In 1948, the Daily News established a radio station called WPIX (Channel 11 in NYC), whose call letters were derived from its nickname as “New York’s Picture Newspaper.” The television and radio stations are now owned by Tribune Company. The News’ headquarters, at 220 East 42nd Street, designed by John Mead Howells and Raymond Hood, was an official city landmark until 1995. The building was the model for the Daily Planet in the first two Superman films. It was also featured in the opening credits of the film version of the musical Hair, and is the setting for a scene in the movie A Chorus Line.
Amid the furor surrounding last week’s Supreme Court decision on affirmative action in college admissions, The News takes a closer look at some of the critical issues involved.