A daily news is a periodical publication with articles on current events and a wide range of topics, including political events and personalities; business, finance and economy; crime, natural disasters and weather; science and technology; sports; and lifestyle, food and fashion, home and garden, and society. Most newspapers are general-interest but there also exist specialized newspapers for certain groups, such as business people or sports fans, and even periodicals focused on specific subjects, such as science fiction or music. Newspapers may be printed on paper or in electronic form, and are typically distributed in a fixed schedule, such as daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly.
Historically, newspapers were written by professional journalists and were intended to be read by the general public. Some have a narrow focus, such as a regional or state newspaper that reports on local events, while others have more of an international scope, such as the New York Times or The Wall Street Journal. Some have a specific target audience, such as African Americans or business leaders, while others are aimed at a broad demographic, such as the United States or the world.
In the early modern era, increased international interaction and a need for more concise news quickly led to the development of short handwritten notes such as those published in 1556 in Venice, Italy, called notizie scritte (literally “news sheets”) that were designed to convey major political and economic developments in a few brief lines. These were precursors to the newspaper as we know it today.
The first newspaper to be printed in tabloid format was the New York Daily News, launched in 1919. It found a niche in the city’s subway system, where commuters found its smaller size and titillating content easier to handle and digest during busy times of the day. It soon became the largest newspaper in the country, mainly due to its sensational stories and its emphasis on photography.
Over the decades, the News gained a reputation for defending the rights of the poor and minorities in the city, earning it a Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Comment. Under the leadership of several editors-in-chief, including Pete Hamill and Debby Krenek, it also developed a loyal following among younger readers for its irreverent, tongue-in-cheek tone.
In 1995, the newspaper moved from its home of 65 years at 220 East 42nd Street, known as the News Building and modeled after the building used for the first two Superman films, to 5 Manhattan West, where it continues to publish today. In 1996, the News began publishing a quarterly and later monthly insert, BET Weekend for African American readers, which went on to become one of its most popular products. During the late 1990s and into the 21st century, the News was locked in circulation battles with its rivals, The New York Post and The New York Times. In 1993, owner Joseph Medill Patterson died, leaving the News in the hands of publisher Mortimer Zuckerman.
