Daily current affairs are the lifeblood of UPSC preparation. If you don’t read them regularly, you cannot expect to excel in the exam. But it’s not just reading the headlines – it’s understanding the nuances of each news item that is crucial. Hence, reading and analysing the newspaper is an important part of any aspirant’s daily routine.
In 1919, Joseph Medill Patterson launched the New York Daily News, the first tabloid in the United States, from an art deco building that still stands on 42nd Street near Second Avenue, an official city landmark designed by John Mead Howells and Raymond Hood. The Daily News was the eleventh-highest circulation paper at its peak in 1947, with 2.4 million daily readers.
By the 1980s, the Daily News was struggling financially. In addition to losing money on circulation, the newspaper lost more than $100 million a year due to high employee wages and benefits. Several attempts were made to save the paper, including a buyout by controversial media mogul Robert Maxwell in 1991. The deal failed because of union opposition. In 1993, publisher Mortimer Zuckerman took control of the Daily News and began making big changes to revitalize its earning potential. He invested $60 million in color presses, bringing the paper up to par with USA Today and allowing it to compete with more mainstream newspapers in terms of visual quality. He also cut staff to save costs and repositioned the Daily News as a “serious tabloid”.
The most famous front page of the Daily News came in 1975, when it proclaimed: “FORD TO CITY: DROP DEAD.” The article was prompted by President Gerald Ford’s decision to veto a bankruptcy bailout for New York City. The scathing headline was widely credited with contributing to the Republican Party’s defeat in the 1976 election.
The newspaper features large photographs, intense city news coverage, a strong focus on politics and the latest in entertainment, celebrity gossip, classified ads, comics, sports and an opinion section. In addition, its award-winning writers and columnists provide news and commentary on the city and beyond. The newspaper is known for its in-depth, investigative reporting and sharply focused political analysis. The Daily News is the only major metro to offer a complete daily news package on the iPhone and iPad. Easily browse and download the E-dition to your device for offline reading, or share stories with friends through email and social media. This app offers a rich, intuitive interface with advanced features to deliver the best daily news experience on your mobile device. *Subscriptions to the E-dition will automatically renew at the end of each billing period unless cancelled. A cancellation fee may apply if the subscriber cancels the subscription before the end of the billing period.