Search

Tabloid journalism in New York is only seven years old. The history of its growth makes a mushroom seem like a century plant. Tabloids have been appearing all over the country since Joseph Medill Patterson started it. Less important newspaper publishers hopped on the bandwagon, and Bernarr Macfadden, who whelps magazines in litters, decided to get in line. It is said that the inception of the News was due to an earnest desire on the part of Patterson to lose money. The year 1918 saw the Chicago Tribune pile up more profits than ever before in its highly prosperous career.

Discusses problems at 'The New York Times' following the resignation of reporter Jayson Blair under charges of plagiarism and fabrication. Contentious meeting of the newspaper's staff; Resentment of many staffers over the management style of executive editor Howell Raines; Implications of the incident for U.S. journalism; How the Blair incident highlights a general erosion of public trust in the media; Issue of race; Publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr.'s defense of Raines; Outlook.

Recalls the shutdown of three New York newspapers in 1966 because of the failure of unions to reach agreement on another contract. What hastened the demise of the 'Herald Tribune' newspaper; Reason for the creation of the Newspaper Preservation Act.

Comments on the fraudulent reporting of black 'New York Times' reporter Jayson Blair, who resigned. How publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr. encouraged staffers to be candid; Topic of quota systems in newsrooms; Implications of hiring underqualified people; The rising pressures to relax standards; Ideology of diversity and its impact on coverage; Issue of credibility.

Reports on Gannett Suburban Newspapers' plans to merge its ten dailies in New York City. Effects to staffers; Suburban areas covered by the newspapers; Combined circulation of the newspapers.

Reports on the changes planned at the `The Daily News' newspaper to improve operations and reverse a slide in circulation in New York City. Goals of Ed Kosner for the newspaper after being named editor in chief; Decline in the paper's circulation since the 1980s; Staff additions planned by the paper.

This article presents results of a survey according to which New York City's major daily papers continue to struggle to keep readers. At least local publishers aren't in it alone: Average daily circulation at nearly 800 papers in the U.S. has fallen 2.6% since last year.

Reports on the possibility that New York City's `Street News' newspaper will close down. Newspaper's unique concept of empowering the homeless by employing them as paper vendors; Bad public image, tougher ordinances for street vendors and poor editorial quality as reasons behind the possible closure; History of the newspaper highlighting the success of its homeless empowerment.

Focuses on 'The New York Sun,' a daily newspaper in New York City that began circulation in April 2002. Question of whether it can compete in what some believe is an already-saturated market; How Seth Lipsky, editor-in-chief, hopes that his paper will detract from the metropolitan circulation of the 'New York Times'; Reaction of editors from competing papers.

Metro International, which launched its first free daily newspaper in Stockholm in 1995, now publishes editions in 54 cities in 16 countries and 14 languages. Its combined circulation of more than five million makes it the third-largest newspaper in the world. But building a global newspaper, especially one that's free, isn't the same as selling desks or dresses. In its nine years of existence, Metro has made a profit only twice. Last year it lost $7 million on sales of $204 million. In early May it launched a New York City edition. The company's strategy in New York, as elsewhere, is to target commuters and youth. The tabloid with the green logo is distributed on street corners and in subway stations and supermarkets--wherever people are on the move. Its mix of short wire-service news stories and celebrity tidbits has attracted many first-time newspaper readers. Forty percent of Metro's audience worldwide is under the age of 30. Metro has deep pockets and a relatively low cost structure. It relies on a small staff of journalists spread around the world, outsources most of its production, and is backed by the Kinnevik Group, a Swedish media and telecom conglomerate, which owns 68% of Metro's stock.

"Metro New York" will become New York City's second giveaway daily newspaper when it launches on May 5, 2004, duking it out with Tribune Co.'s free daily "AM New York," that debuted in October 2003. Both papers are targeting an 18- to 34-year-old reader who has largely stopped reading newspapers. "AM New York" has the advantage of a head start. Its audited circulation for the first quarter reached 209,000 copies daily. Circulation is currently up to 221,000 copies a day. "Metro New York," however, plans to distribute more than 300,000 copies and is showing advertisers a prototype with 50 pages, compared with AM's usual 30-odd pages.

Reports on the expansion of the Sunday edition of `The New York Daily News.' Appointments for journalists Ed Kosner and Mike Barnicle; Decline in newspaper circulation; Need to convert occasional Sunday paper buyers into regular readers.

Focuses on speculations that Tribune Media Services Inc. is planning to launch a city edition of its 'Newsday' newspaper in New York City. Company's hiring of veteran news editors to expand the paper's coverage of the police in Manhattan; Indications of an increased city focus and possible expansion across the regions' boroughs.

Reports on the $24.4 million-worth of incentives given by the New York state officials to the `New York Post,' to keep its printing operations within city limits. Events leading up to the gift; Criticisms against the move; Plans of the paper for the grant money.