Daily News is a newspaper that prints articles in a tabloid format. It was first published in 1919 and is one of the oldest newspapers in the United States. The paper’s subject matter varies but has historically focused on political wrongdoing and social intrigue, such as the romance between Wallis Simpson and King Edward VIII that led to the latter’s abdication. The paper also devoted much attention to photography; it was an early user of the Associated Press wirephoto service and developed a staff of photographers.
In addition to printed articles, most newspapers also include photographs and other images (charts, graphs, sketches), in black or color. Photographs are a crucial element of modern newspaper coverage; they add to the reader’s understanding of events and provide an emotional connection to the story. The earliest photographs appeared in newspapers in the 1880s, but they did not become common until the 1920s.
Most major newspapers publish daily, although smaller local papers may only be published weekly or bi-weekly. Articles are typically written by professional journalists, but sometimes authors are not named in print. The names of those who write editorials, however, are usually credited, and letters to the editors are often attributed to their readers.
The term “newspaper” encompasses all forms of printed and online publications that report current news events, ranging from national to local to community affairs. Some are specialized, reporting only on certain topics such as sports, entertainment, or politics. Others are a mix of general and specialized news and opinions. Many newspaper readers also subscribe to radio or television programs that focus on local, regional, and international news events.
When a newspaper shuts down, it creates a void in the lives of its subscribers that can be hard to fill. Andrew Conte’s Death of the Daily News is a rich and absorbing anatomy of what happens when a town loses its newspaper, how the loss affects citizens, and how some are trying to rebuild local journalism in communities that are struggling to survive.
Despite the ongoing financial struggles facing many newspapers, some continue to thrive. In New York City, for example, the Daily News is based in The News Building, an official city landmark designed by John Mead Howells and Raymond Hood. It was used as the model for the Daily Planet building in the first two Superman movies. The News is currently owned by Tribune Publishing, which is controlled by Heath Freeman’s hedge fund Alden Global Capital. The company has been slashing jobs at its newspapers, including those of summer journalism interns. This latest round of cost cutting has been criticized by the U.S. Senate and has raised concerns about how the company’s owners are managing the business. This is a developing story.