Daily news is a major newspaper published in the United States. Founded in 1919 by Joseph Medill Patterson, it was the first successful tabloid newspaper and at its peak had the highest circulation of any paper in the world. It enticed readers by emphasizing crime, scandal and violence, lurid photographs, and entertainment features such as celebrity gossip. It also offered a strong city news section, classified ads, and comics.
The paper was known for putting its front pages on display at public events and even once held an event where it let readers dunk their copies in dirty water. One of the most memorable headlines was in 1975 when the News ran the screamer “Ford to City: Drop Dead!”
It was a ferocious rival for the New York Post and often portrayed itself as a moderately liberal alternative. Its political affiliations shifted during the mid-century period and it tended to lean Republican in politics, but its political views were never as conservative as those of the Post.
During the 1920s the Daily News had a reputation for using sensational journalism to attract subscribers and was noted for its use of large photographs on its front page. It was an early adopter of Associated Press wirephoto services and had a staff of photographers.
During the second half of 2007 the Express gave prominent coverage to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann and referred to its campaign as “our relentless crusade for the truth.” This was satirised in Private Eye, which called it the Diana Express or Di’ly Express.