N-Y.net

When discussing New York history, you can’t leave out the state’s newspapers and written history. The New York Post is an integral part of the state’s history and culture. The New York Post dates back to the creation of this country, and had today become one of the ten largest newspapers in the country. It was founded with only $10,000 by Alexander Hamilton in 1801, and was then known as the New York Evening Post.

Alexander Hamilton was a Federalist, and he founded the newspaper with other Federalist Party members. Together, they were upset about the presidential election of Thomas Jefferson, and were equally dismayed at the rise of his Democratic-Republican party. They created the New York Post in a broadsheet format, characterized by long vertical lines and pages. It was very much unlike that which we see today. Today the New York Post resembles that of most tabloids: smaller print and pages, focusing more on local-interest and entertainment stories.

And as a tabloid newspaper, the New York Post is well known for its sports entertainment and gossip columns. The sports section always begins on the back page, and many a sports fan welcomes Phil Mushnick and his media sports coverage to their breakfast and coffee mornings. The New York Posts’ gossip stars are equally known. Columnists Liz Smith and Cindy Adams are part of the city’s best known gossip section. The New York Post used to feature its gossip section on page six, earning it the reference “Page Six.” Today it is found somewhere between pages ten and twelve, however it is still referred to as “Page Six.” The section is so popular that in 2006 the New York Post debuted a free magazine, inside the newspaper, rightfully called Page Six: The Magazine.

Although the entertainment and gossip sections of the New York Post have made it increasingly popular, especially among celebrities, this characteristic of the Post have also earned it criticism. It is only since Rupert Murdoch’s News Corportation took over the New York Post in 1976 that such sensationalism has been the focus. Criticisms target the lurid headlines it posts, as well as the conservative slant its contents seem to provide. Many contribute the conservative bias and blatant advocacy of the New York Post to Murdoch himself, saying that the newspaper takes on and emphasizes the views and opinions of the ownership.

Whether it is criticism or favoritism, friend or foe, the New York Post is still one of the top ten largest newspapers in the country. It has a circulation of over 724,000 and is the oldest newspaper to consistently be a daily distributing news media. The New York Post is a historic part of New York, and forever will remain that way.

Filed under: NY Media by Newyork