Yale Daily News
The Daily News, founded in 1878, is the nation’s oldest newspaper. The paper is independent and financially self-sustaining and serves the Yale community through a weekly campus newspaper, WKND, the Daily News Magazine, and special issues for Yale-Harvard Game Day, Commencement, First Year and more. The paper is published Monday through Friday during the academic year and distributes in New Haven and to locations across the United States.
The venerable newspaper, which once boasted the world’s largest daily circulation at 350,000, was in dire financial trouble for much of the 21st century. A flurry of mismanagement and a long-running circulation battle with rival tabloid, the New York Post, slashed staff and caused layoffs. The paper was rescued in 1993 by businessman Mortimer Zuckerman and, two years later, sold to Tribune Publishing (now Tronc) for $1.
In the early 20th century, the Daily News had abundant subject matter: political wrongdoing such as the Teapot Dome scandal and social intrigue such as Wallis Simpson’s romance with King Edward VIII that led to his abdication. The paper also was an early adopter of wire photo services and developed a large photography staff.
Despite its long history of being a sensational tabloid, the Daily News embraced an ethos that was high-minded and populist. It had an editorial stance that was flexible and centrist, though it supported isolationism in the beginning of World War II and later favored conservative populism. The Daily News often took a strong stand on civil rights, and it celebrated the achievements of blacks and other minorities in sports, entertainment and politics.
Aside from the news and opinion sections, the Daily News carries classified ads, real estate listings, and obituaries. It also has a community page, the Daily Dose, which covers local news and events. The newspaper offers subscriptions to its online version, which provides a full replica of the print edition.
Readers can access the Daily News online on their desktop computer, tablet or smartphone. The site allows subscribers to skim headlines and sections, and they can click on a story for an enlarged view. The Daily News website includes a live feed of news events, and it also offers a search function and the option to sign up for its daily email newsletter.
Death of the Daily News is a timely book, one that explores what happens when a town loses its newspaper and how the loss can be reversed. It is a rich and compelling anatomy of what was lost and of how some towns are rebuilding a new kind of local journalism. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in the future of media and the enduring power of great journalism.