The Daily News is an American newspaper published in New York City. It is known for its brassy, pictorial style and op-ed articles that often feature high-profile figures in controversial situations. In addition to print editions, the paper also operates a television and radio station. The newspaper is currently owned by Tronc, a company that also owns the Chicago Tribune.

The paper was founded in 1919 by Joseph Medill Patterson, who had previously worked as the co-publisher of the Chicago Tribune. At the time, he wanted to launch a tabloid-style paper that would appeal to working class readers and promote his own conservative politics. The paper was originally named the Illustrated Daily News, and later the New York Daily News.

In 1947, the newspaper reached its circulation peak of 2.4 million copies per day. This helped the Daily News become one of the highest-circulation newspapers in the world. However, in 1978, the paper suffered its first major decline when a three-month-long strike by the city’s municipal unions took its toll on readership. The newspaper was also hampered by a price increase and production problems.

When the newspaper returned to publishing after the strike ended, it had lost 145,000 readers a day, which was about a third of its circulation during its heyday. By the early 1990s, circulation had dropped to 800,000 daily, and the News was losing money. In 1991, the newspaper’s parent company, Tribune Company, was bought by controversial British media mogul Robert Maxwell. Maxwell attempted to close the News, but his plan was thwarted by the company’s ten unions. The Daily News was finally sold to Mort Zuckerman, owner of the Atlantic newspaper chain, in 1993 for $36 million.

By the mid-to-late 20th century, the News had reverted to its provocative roots, with famous headlines such as giving Republican Senator Ted Cruz the middle finger using the Statue of Liberty’s hand and rehashing its most notorious headline of all time in response to President Donald Trump: “TRUMP TO CITY: DROP DEAD!”

In the same period, it established WPIX (Channel 11 in New York City), whose call letters were based on the newspaper’s nickname, as well as what became WFAN-FM, which is now owned by CBS Radio. The News also maintained local bureaus in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens, as well as offices at City Hall and within One Police Plaza.

In 1996, the newspaper started the quarterly (later monthly) insert BET Weekend for African Americans, which quickly gained a large following. In addition, the paper moved out of its home in the News Building to a single-floor office at Manhattan West. It also launched a successful weekly political column called Power Grid.