Who Owns the Daily News? A Storied Tabloid's Ownership Journey The New York Daily News, often just called "the Daily News," is one of America's most iconic tabloids, famous for its bold headlines and gritty New York coverage since 1919. As of the latest reliable updates, it's owned by Daily News Enterprises, a company controlled by Alden Global Capital—a hedge fund known for snapping up struggling media outlets. This setup came about after a series of dramatic sales, reflecting the cutthroat world of print media in the digital age.

Ownership Timeline

Here's how the paper changed hands over the decades, marked by financial ups and downs:

Period| Owner| Key Details
---|---|---
1919–1993| Tribune Company roots & others| Founded by Joseph Medill Patterson; grew into a tabloid powerhouse with massive circulation.5
1993–2017| Mortimer Zuckerman (New York News, Inc.)| Real estate mogul bought it for $36 million; era of celebrity gossip and city scoops, but circulation began sliding.37
2017| Tronc (now Tribune Publishing)| Sold for a symbolic $1; Tronc took on debts and liabilities to gain a New York foothold.139
2021–Present| Alden Global Capital via Daily News Enterprises| Alden acquired Tribune Publishing, then spun off the Daily News into its own entity amid cost-cutting and layoffs.5

This path mirrors broader industry trends: print giants like the Daily News once ruled with photos and punchy stories, but online rivals chipped away at readers.

Why Alden Global Capital?

Alden, dubbed a "vulture fund" by critics, specializes in buying undervalued newspapers, slashing costs (like newsroom staff), and squeezing profits. For the Daily News, this meant separating it from Tribune after Alden's 2021 takeover—forming Daily News Enterprises to focus on its tabloid niche. No major ownership shifts have surfaced since , despite rumors in media circles about further sales amid ongoing revenue woes from ads and subscriptions.

Journalists and insiders paint a mixed picture: some hail Alden's stability after near-bankruptcy scares, while others decry deep cuts that gutted local reporting. For instance, post-2021, the paper leaned harder into digital with 25 million monthly visitors, but print editions shrank.

Recent Context & Trending Chatter

In today's media landscape (as of early 2026), "who owns the Daily News" pops up in forum threads on Reddit and Twitter, often tied to debates over bias—rated left-leaning but reliable for facts. Gossip swirls about potential buyers like billionaires eyeing New York assets, but nothing concrete beyond Alden's grip. It's a reminder of how hedge funds now shape the news you read, prioritizing balance sheets over bylines.

TL;DR at Bottom: Alden Global Capital owns the New York Daily News through Daily News Enterprises (since 2021), following sales from Zuckerman to Tronc amid print media's decline.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.