New York Daily Mirror
Encyclopedia
The New York Daily Mirror was an American
morning tabloid newspaper first published on June 24, 1924, in New York City
by the William Randolph Hearst
organization as a contrast to their mainstream broadsheet
s, the Evening Journal and New York American, later consolidated into the New York Journal American
. It was created to compete with the New York Daily News
which was then a sensationalist tabloid and the most widely circulated newspaper in the United States. Hearst preferred the broadsheet format and sold the Mirror in 1928, only to buy it back in 1932.
Early on, several bright young writers and photographic journalists joined the Daily Mirror, such as Ring Lardner, Jr., Hy Peskin
and the political commentator Drew Pearson
. The poet-songwriter Nick Kenny
was the paper's radio editor, and Edward Zeltner contributed a column. The gossip columnist Walter Winchell
was hired away from the New York Evening Graphic, given his own radio show and syndicated, in his prime — the 1940s and early 50s — in more than 2000 daily papers. In 1927, the paper devoted substantial resources to the exploitation of scandal
with repeated stories on such events as the divorce
trial of real estate tycoon Edward West "Daddy" Browning who at age 51 had married 15-year-old Frances Belle "Peaches" Heenan
. Management of the Mirror estimated that its content was 10% news and 90% entertainment.
By the 1930s, the Daily Mirror was one of the Hearst Corporation
's largest papers in terms of circulation. However, the paper never became a significantly profitable property and in its later years it declined substantially despite numerous efforts to turn things around.
Despite having the second highest daily circulation of an American newspaper, The Daily Mirror closed on October 16, 1963, after the 114-day 1962 New York City newspaper strike
. The Daily Mirror name rights were at that point acquired by its rival the Daily News.
On January 4, 1971, publisher Robert W. Farrell revived the New York Daily Mirror in name only, as a tabloid, published in Long Island City, Queens
. Operating on a shoestring budget, the paper faced obstruction from the Daily News (from whom it had acquired the Daily Mirror name rights after the Daily News let them lapse). This new iteration of the Daily Mirror ceased publication on February 28, 1972.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
morning tabloid newspaper first published on June 24, 1924, in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
by the William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst was an American business magnate and leading newspaper publisher. Hearst entered the publishing business in 1887, after taking control of The San Francisco Examiner from his father...
organization as a contrast to their mainstream broadsheet
Broadsheet
Broadsheet is the largest of the various newspaper formats and is characterized by long vertical pages . The term derives from types of popular prints usually just of a single sheet, sold on the streets and containing various types of material, from ballads to political satire. The first broadsheet...
s, the Evening Journal and New York American, later consolidated into the New York Journal American
New York Journal American
The New York Journal American was a newspaper published from 1937 to 1966. The Journal American was the product of a merger between two New York newspapers owned by William Randolph Hearst: The New York American , a morning paper, and the New York Evening Journal, an afternoon paper...
. It was created to compete with the New York Daily News
New York Daily News
The Daily News of New York City is the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 605,677, as of November 1, 2011....
which was then a sensationalist tabloid and the most widely circulated newspaper in the United States. Hearst preferred the broadsheet format and sold the Mirror in 1928, only to buy it back in 1932.
Early on, several bright young writers and photographic journalists joined the Daily Mirror, such as Ring Lardner, Jr., Hy Peskin
Hy Peskin
Hyman "Hy" Peskin was a Jewish-American photographer notable for several famous photographs of American sports people and celebrities published by Sports Illustrated and Life...
and the political commentator Drew Pearson
Drew Pearson (journalist)
Andrew Russell Pearson , known professionally as Drew Pearson, was one of the best-known American columnists of his day, noted for his muckraking syndicated newspaper column "Washington Merry-Go-Round," in which he attacked various public persons, sometimes with little or no objective proof for his...
. The poet-songwriter Nick Kenny
Nick Kenny (poet)
Nicholas Aloysius Kenny was a syndicated newspaper columnist, a song lyricist and a poet who wrote light verse in the Edgar Guest tradition.-Biography:...
was the paper's radio editor, and Edward Zeltner contributed a column. The gossip columnist Walter Winchell
Walter Winchell
Walter Winchell was an American newspaper and radio gossip commentator.-Professional career:Born Walter Weinschel in New York City, he left school in the sixth grade and started performing in a vaudeville troupe known as Gus Edwards' "Newsboys Sextet."His career in journalism was begun by posting...
was hired away from the New York Evening Graphic, given his own radio show and syndicated, in his prime — the 1940s and early 50s — in more than 2000 daily papers. In 1927, the paper devoted substantial resources to the exploitation of scandal
Scandal
A scandal is a widely publicized allegation or set of allegations that damages the reputation of an institution, individual or creed...
with repeated stories on such events as the divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
trial of real estate tycoon Edward West "Daddy" Browning who at age 51 had married 15-year-old Frances Belle "Peaches" Heenan
Peaches Browning
Peaches Browning , born Frances Belle Heenan, was an American actress, most famous for her failed marriage to New York real estate mogul, Edward West "Daddy" Browning...
. Management of the Mirror estimated that its content was 10% news and 90% entertainment.
By the 1930s, the Daily Mirror was one of the Hearst Corporation
Hearst Corporation
The Hearst Corporation is an American media conglomerate based in the Hearst Tower, Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States. Founded by William Randolph Hearst as an owner of newspapers, the company's holdings now include a wide variety of media...
's largest papers in terms of circulation. However, the paper never became a significantly profitable property and in its later years it declined substantially despite numerous efforts to turn things around.
Despite having the second highest daily circulation of an American newspaper, The Daily Mirror closed on October 16, 1963, after the 114-day 1962 New York City newspaper strike
1962 New York City newspaper strike
The 1962-63 New York City Newspaper Strike ran from December 8, 1962 until March 31, 1963, lasting for a total of 114 days.-Preliminary actions:...
. The Daily Mirror name rights were at that point acquired by its rival the Daily News.
On January 4, 1971, publisher Robert W. Farrell revived the New York Daily Mirror in name only, as a tabloid, published in Long Island City, Queens
Long Island City, Queens
Long Island City is the westernmost neighborhood of the borough of Queens in New York City. L.I.C. is notable for its rapid and ongoing gentrification, its waterfront parks, and its thriving arts community. L.I.C. has among the highest concentration of art galleries, art institutions, and studio...
. Operating on a shoestring budget, the paper faced obstruction from the Daily News (from whom it had acquired the Daily Mirror name rights after the Daily News let them lapse). This new iteration of the Daily Mirror ceased publication on February 28, 1972.
In popular culture
- Sportswriter and columnist Max Mercy (played by Robert DuvallRobert DuvallRobert Selden Duvall is an American actor and director. He has won an Academy Award, two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards and a BAFTA over the course of his career....
) wrote for the New York Daily Mirror in the 1984 film The NaturalThe Natural (film)The Natural is a 1984 film adaptation of Bernard Malamud's 1952 baseball novel of the same name, directed by Barry Levinson and starring Robert Redford, Glenn Close and Robert Duvall...
. - The New York Banner, a fictional newspaper which features prominently in Ayn RandAyn RandAyn Rand was a Russian-American novelist, philosopher, playwright, and screenwriter. She is known for her two best-selling novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged and for developing a philosophical system she called Objectivism....
's novel The FountainheadThe FountainheadThe Fountainhead is a 1943 novel by Ayn Rand. It was Rand's first major literary success and brought her fame and financial success. More than 6.5 million copies of the book have been sold worldwide....
, is considered to have been loosely modeled on the New York Daily Mirror. - The alternate history novel Sideslip, by Ted WhiteTed White (author)Ted White is a Hugo Award-winning American writer, known as a science fiction author and editor and fan, as well as a music critic...
and Dave van Arnam, depicts an alternate reality where Earth is ruled by extraterrestrialsExtraterrestrial life in popular cultureIn popular cultures, "extraterrestrials" are life forms — especially intelligent life forms— that are of extraterrestrial origin .-Historical ideas:-Pre-modern:...
and the New York Daily Mirror continues publication into 1968. - The New York Daily Mirror was made reference to in the 2006 movie The Devil Wears PradaThe Devil Wears Prada (film)The Devil Wears Prada is a 2006 comedy-drama film, a loose screen adaptation of Lauren Weisberger's 2003 novel of the same name. It stars Anne Hathaway as Andrea Sachs, a recent college graduate who goes to New York City and gets a job as a co-assistant to powerful and demanding fashion magazine...
, starring Meryl StreepMeryl StreepMary Louise "Meryl" Streep is an American actress who has worked in theatre, television and film.Streep made her professional stage debut in 1971's The Playboy of Seville, before her screen debut in the television movie The Deadliest Season in 1977. In that same year, she made her film debut with...
and Anne HathawayAnne Hathaway (actress)Anne Jacqueline Hathaway is an American actress. After several stage roles, she appeared in the 1999 television series Get Real. She played Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries...
.