In the southwestern Pennsylvania town of McKeesport, where a daily newspaper ceased publication in 2015, residents are struggling to make sense of local events and distinguish truth from gossip. As a consequence, they have become their own gatekeepers to the news—and it’s not always good for them. This is a tale that’s playing out in communities across the country as technology has disrupted journalism and thrown thousands of journalists out of work, closed newsrooms, and created “news deserts” where citizens have few traditional sources of information. In Death of the Daily News, Andrew Conte provides a poignant study of one community’s response to these changes while offering hope that there are ways for local journalism to survive in the digital age.
Founded in 1919, the New York Daily News was the first U.S. daily printed in tabloid format and once had the largest circulation of any newspaper in the world. In recent years the paper has exhibited moderate-to-liberal bias, often in contrast to its rival, the right-wing New York Post. It is currently owned by Tronc, the publishing arm of the Tribune Company.
The Daily News features intense city news coverage, celebrity gossip, comics, sports, a news section, and an opinion section. Readers also enjoy a robust website and social media presence. The Daily News is also well known for its strong stance on city politics and has historically been a vocal opponent of isolationism.
Each Daily News article contains comprehension and critical thinking questions found below the story. These questions are designed to help students develop their critical thinking skills as they read. In addition, the Daily News also provides “Background” and “Resources” (including video clips and maps) below each question to help students understand the context and meaning of the article.
A subscription to Daily News allows students and teachers to read all editions of the newspaper in full-color, including all special sections. They also can download editions for offline reading, and share stories with friends through email. In addition to current affairs, the Daily News offers feature pieces, editorials, letters to the editor, and a wealth of historical content.
The Daily News has been awarded an AllSides media bias score of Skewed Left, which means it tends to lean more toward liberal, progressive, or left-wing thought and policy agendas. This is the highest rating of any news source on our site. The Daily News is a part of the Tribune Publishing Company, and is owned by Tronc, which purchased it in 2017. The newspaper’s New York City offices are located at 4 New York Plaza.