Since 1882
Our Legacy
From the ink-stained presses of Newspaper Row to the screens of a connected world, the New York Journal American has chronicled over 140 years of American life.
1882
Year Founded
84
Years in Print
1M+
Peak Daily Circulation
140+
Years of History
The story of the New York Journal American is inseparable from the story of modern American journalism itself. It was born in the age of fiercely independent newspapers, rose to power under the most ambitious publisher the country had ever seen, shaped the way millions of Americans understood their world, and produced some of the most celebrated reporters, columnists, and cartoonists of the 20th century.
When the paper's presses finally fell silent in 1966, it left behind a legacy that echoes through every newsroom in America. Now, in 2026, that legacy lives again — reimagined for the digital age, but anchored in the same mission: to be an American paper for the American people.
A Timeline of the Journal
Key moments that defined the paper and shaped American journalism.
1882
The Morning Journal Is Born
The New York Morning Journal is established on Park Row, joining the fiercely competitive press corridor known as Newspaper Row. From its inception, it championed bold headlines and accessible reporting for working-class New Yorkers.
1882
The Morning Journal Is Born
The New York Morning Journal is established on Park Row, joining the fiercely competitive press corridor known as Newspaper Row. From its inception, it championed bold headlines and accessible reporting for working-class New Yorkers.
1895
Hearst Takes the Helm
William Randolph Hearst acquires the struggling paper for $180,000, immediately investing in top-tier talent, sensational headlines, and aggressive investigative reporting. The Journal enters a fierce circulation war with Joseph Pulitzer's New York World.
1895
Hearst Takes the Helm
William Randolph Hearst acquires the struggling paper for $180,000, immediately investing in top-tier talent, sensational headlines, and aggressive investigative reporting. The Journal enters a fierce circulation war with Joseph Pulitzer's New York World.
1896
The Yellow Kid & Yellow Journalism
The Journal hires cartoonist R.F. Outcault and his famous Yellow Kid strip from the World, igniting the rivalry that gives 'Yellow Journalism' its name. The term would come to define an entire era of American media.
1896
The Yellow Kid & Yellow Journalism
The Journal hires cartoonist R.F. Outcault and his famous Yellow Kid strip from the World, igniting the rivalry that gives 'Yellow Journalism' its name. The term would come to define an entire era of American media.
1898
Remember the Maine!
After the USS Maine explodes in Havana harbor, the Journal's sensational coverage helps push the nation toward the Spanish-American War. Hearst reportedly tells illustrator Frederic Remington: 'You furnish the pictures, and I'll furnish the war.'
1898
Remember the Maine!
After the USS Maine explodes in Havana harbor, the Journal's sensational coverage helps push the nation toward the Spanish-American War. Hearst reportedly tells illustrator Frederic Remington: 'You furnish the pictures, and I'll furnish the war.'
1901
One Million Copies
The Journal reaches a daily circulation of over one million copies, making it one of the most widely read newspapers in the world. Its Sunday editions feature illustrations, comics, and long-form journalism that captivate readers nationwide.
1901
One Million Copies
The Journal reaches a daily circulation of over one million copies, making it one of the most widely read newspapers in the world. Its Sunday editions feature illustrations, comics, and long-form journalism that captivate readers nationwide.
1916
Election Night on the Air
The Journal-American hosts one of the first radio broadcasts of presidential election results, foreshadowing the coming era of multimedia journalism. The paper's reach now extends beyond the printed page.
1916
Election Night on the Air
The Journal-American hosts one of the first radio broadcasts of presidential election results, foreshadowing the coming era of multimedia journalism. The paper's reach now extends beyond the printed page.
1937
Two Papers Become One
The New York American (formerly the Morning Journal) and the New York Evening Journal merge under Hearst's direction to form the New York Journal-American, consolidating Hearst's flagship newspaper operations in the city.
1937
Two Papers Become One
The New York American (formerly the Morning Journal) and the New York Evening Journal merge under Hearst's direction to form the New York Journal-American, consolidating Hearst's flagship newspaper operations in the city.
1945
A Future President Files Dispatches
A young John F. Kennedy, fresh from his Navy service in the Pacific, contributes reporting on the founding of the United Nations in San Francisco and the Potsdam Conference in Germany. His byline would later adorn the Oval Office.
1945
A Future President Files Dispatches
A young John F. Kennedy, fresh from his Navy service in the Pacific, contributes reporting on the founding of the United Nations in San Francisco and the Potsdam Conference in Germany. His byline would later adorn the Oval Office.
1950s
Dorothy Kilgallen's Beat
Star columnist Dorothy Kilgallen becomes a national celebrity through her Journal-American column 'The Voice of Broadway' and her appearances on the CBS game show 'What's My Line?' She covers the Sam Sheppard murder trial, the JFK assassination, and the inner workings of organized crime.
1950s
Dorothy Kilgallen's Beat
Star columnist Dorothy Kilgallen becomes a national celebrity through her Journal-American column 'The Voice of Broadway' and her appearances on the CBS game show 'What's My Line?' She covers the Sam Sheppard murder trial, the JFK assassination, and the inner workings of organized crime.
1964
Beatlemania Hits New York
The Journal-American covers The Beatles' arrival at JFK Airport and their appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, providing readers with front-row seats to the cultural revolution reshaping America and the world.
1964
Beatlemania Hits New York
The Journal-American covers The Beatles' arrival at JFK Airport and their appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, providing readers with front-row seats to the cultural revolution reshaping America and the world.
1966
The Presses Stop
After prolonged labor disputes cripple New York's newspaper industry, the Journal-American publishes its final edition and merges with the Herald Tribune and the World-Telegram & Sun to form the short-lived World Journal Tribune. An 84-year era of daily printing comes to a close.
1966
The Presses Stop
After prolonged labor disputes cripple New York's newspaper industry, the Journal-American publishes its final edition and merges with the Herald Tribune and the World-Telegram & Sun to form the short-lived World Journal Tribune. An 84-year era of daily printing comes to a close.
2026
The Digital Resurrection
The New York Journal American is reborn as a digital-first publication, inheriting the name, the mission, and the spirit of its predecessor. Combining trusted wire services with modern technology, it carries the torch of independent American journalism into a new century.
2026
The Digital Resurrection
The New York Journal American is reborn as a digital-first publication, inheriting the name, the mission, and the spirit of its predecessor. Combining trusted wire services with modern technology, it carries the torch of independent American journalism into a new century.
The People Who Made the Paper
Journalists, publishers, and visionaries who wrote history through its pages.
William Randolph Hearst
Publisher & Owner, 1895 – 1951
The towering media mogul who built the Journal into a national powerhouse. Hearst's empire eventually spanned 28 newspapers, 18 magazines, several radio stations, and a film company. His influence on American culture and politics was unrivaled in the 20th century.
Nellie Bly
Investigative Journalist
Pioneered undercover investigative reporting. Her 1889 record-breaking trip around the world in 72 days made her a household name. She exposed conditions in mental asylums and sweatshops, setting the standard for advocacy journalism.
Dorothy Kilgallen
Columnist & Reporter, 1931 – 1965
One of the most prominent female journalists of the 20th century. Her 'Voice of Broadway' column was syndicated to over 200 papers. She covered the Lindbergh kidnapping trial, the Sam Sheppard case, and was investigating the JFK assassination at the time of her death.
John F. Kennedy
Guest Correspondent, 1945
Before entering politics, JFK filed dispatches from the founding of the United Nations and the Potsdam Conference. His journalistic instincts shaped his legendary communication skills as president.
Jimmy Breslin
Columnist
Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist known for his vivid, street-level reporting that gave voice to ordinary New Yorkers. His column on the gravedigger at JFK's funeral became one of the most celebrated newspaper pieces in American history.
Rube Goldberg
Cartoonist & Sculptor
Legendary cartoonist whose wildly complex contraption drawings became so iconic that 'Rube Goldberg machine' entered the dictionary. He won the Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning in 1948.
Ford Frick
Sports Editor, 1922 – 1934
Rose from sportswriter to sports editor at the Journal, later becoming president of the National League and ultimately Commissioner of Major League Baseball from 1951 to 1965.
Ambrose Bierce
Writer & Columnist
The acid-tongued satirist and author of 'The Devil's Dictionary' contributed sharp-witted commentary on politics and society. Known as 'Bitter Bierce,' he disappeared in Mexico in 1913 and was never found.
“You furnish the pictures, and I'll furnish the war.”
Attributed to William Randolph Hearst, 1897
Whether he truly said it or not, the quote captures the spirit of an era when the Journal wielded more influence over American public opinion than any other single newspaper.
The Story Continues
In 2026, the New York Journal American returned — digital, independent, and committed to the same mission it has carried since 1882. We invite you to be part of the next chapter.