You’re walking down Broadway, and honestly, the "news" is everywhere. It’s on the giant digital screens in Times Square, it’s buzzing in the pocket of the person next to you, and surprisingly, it’s still sitting in those green and blue plastic boxes on the street corners. People keep saying print is dead. They’ve been saying it since, what, 2010? Yet, here we are in 2026, and the list of New York City newspapers is somehow more chaotic and essential than it’s ever been.
New York isn’t just a city; it’s a collection of a thousand different villages. A guy in Bensonhurst doesn't care about the same things as a woman in a penthouse on the Upper West Side, and their newspapers reflect that. If you want to understand this city, you can't just follow a single Twitter feed (or whatever we're calling "X" this week). You’ve got to see what the editors are putting on the front pages of the dailies, the weeklies, and the hyper-local rags that only show up in specific ZIP codes.
The Big Three: The Dailies That Still Run the Show
If we’re making a list, we have to start with the heavy hitters. These are the papers that set the national agenda before most people have even finished their first espresso.
The New York Times
The "Grey Lady" isn't so grey anymore. While the print edition is a luxury item for many, The New York Times remains the undisputed heavyweight. It’s the paper of record, even if half the city loves to hate-read the Opinion section. In 2026, they've pivoted so hard into digital lifestyle—think Games, Cooking, and Wirecutter—that sometimes you forget they actually cover wars and City Hall too. But make no mistake, when a scandal breaks at the Mayor’s office, the Times is usually the one holding the receipts.
The New York Post
Kinda the opposite of the Times, right? The Post is loud, it’s brassy, and it’s unapologetically conservative. Founded by Alexander Hamilton back in 1801, it’s the oldest continuously published daily in the country. You don’t read the Post for deep, nuanced foreign policy analysis. You read it for the headlines. "Headless Body in Topless Bar" is the gold standard, but even today, their back-page sports coverage and "Page Six" gossip are basically required reading if you want to know what’s actually happening in the city’s power circles.
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The New York Daily News
The Daily News has had a rough ride lately, especially after the Alden Global Capital takeover a few years back. It’s "New York’s Hometown Newspaper," or at least it wants to be. It traditionally represents the outer boroughs—the cops, the firefighters, the construction workers. While it doesn't have the same swagger it did in the 1940s when it was the highest-circulated paper in America, it still fights for the underdog. Its tabloid format is literally designed to be read on a crowded 4-train.
The Business and Power Players
New York is the financial capital of the world, so obviously, our "local" business papers are actually global.
- The Wall Street Journal: Technically a national paper, but its heart (and its massive headquarters) is right here. If you’re looking for a list of New York City newspapers that billionaires actually read, this is #1.
- Crain’s New York Business: This is where you go to find out which real estate mogul just bought a block in Long Island City or why the MTA is over budget again. It’s granular. It’s nerdy. It’s vital for anyone trying to make a buck in this town.
The Ethnic and Community Press: The Real Soul of NYC
This is where the list gets interesting. Mayor Zohran Mamdani recently noted that the city’s ethnic and community media are in a "Darwinian moment." Basically, they’re fighting to move from old-school print to digital-first models.
There are over 270 newspapers and magazines published in New York in more than 40 languages. Think about that for a second. If you only read English, you’re missing out on 80% of the conversation.
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El Diario La Prensa
The oldest Spanish-language daily in the United States. It’s the lifeline for the city’s massive Latino population. Whether it’s immigration reform or local soccer scores, El Diario covers it with a level of cultural nuance that the mainstream dailies just can’t touch.
New York Amsterdam News
Located in Harlem, this is one of the most influential Black newspapers in the country. It’s been around since 1909. It doesn't just report news; it advocates. When you see a protest in Brooklyn or a new housing initiative in Southeast Queens, the Amsterdam News has likely been covering the "why" behind it for months before the Times notices.
The Jewish Press and Hamodia
Brooklyn is home to some of the largest Jewish communities outside of Israel, and their papers—The Jewish Press, Hamodia, and Der Yid (in Yiddish)—are everywhere. They are strictly focused on community needs, religious life, and local politics. In neighborhoods like Borough Park or Williamsburg, these aren't just papers; they are the primary source of truth.
The Chinese Press
Walk through any of the three Chinatowns (Manhattan, Flushing, or Sunset Park) and you’ll see World Journal and Sing Tao Daily. These papers have massive circulations that rival some of the English dailies. They serve as a bridge for new immigrants, helping them navigate everything from the school system to the Department of Buildings.
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The Hyper-Locals: Because Your Block Matters
Sometimes you don't care about what's happening at the UN; you care about why the garbage hasn't been picked up on 74th Street. That’s where the hyper-locals come in.
- The Staten Island Advance: If you live on "The Rock," this is your Bible. It’s one of the few local papers that still feels like a traditional town rag, covering high school sports and bridge traffic with equal intensity.
- The Queens Chronicle: Queens is the most diverse place on Earth, and the Chronicle tries to wrap its arms around all of it.
- The Brooklyn Eagle: A historic name that was revived to cover the borough's transformation from a manufacturing hub to a tech and culture powerhouse.
- The Riverdale Press: A Pulitzer-winning weekly in the Bronx that proves you don't need a skyscraper office to do world-class journalism.
The Digital Survivors and Newcomers
We can't talk about a list of New York City newspapers without mentioning the ones that don't use ink.
THE CITY is a non-profit newsroom that has filled the vacuum left by the shrinking of the big dailies. They do the "boring" but essential work—tracking every lobbyist, every housing court case, and every broken elevator in NYCHA. Then there’s Hell Gate, a worker-owned outlet that brings back that snarky, "old New York" voice that went missing when the Village Voice hit the skids.
Why This List Still Matters
You might think, "Why do I need a newspaper when I have TikTok?" Honestly, because TikTok won't tell you why your landlord is legally allowed to raise your rent 10% this year.
Newspapers in New York are a check on power. They are the reason "Boss" Tweed went to jail in the 1870s, and they’re the reason modern corruption gets sniffed out today. Even the small ones, the free papers like amNewYork Metro that you grab before jumping on the L-train, provide a shared reality for 8 million people who don't agree on anything else.
Actionable Insights for Navigating NYC Media:
- Diversify your diet: If you only read the Post, you’ll think the city is a war zone. If you only read the Times, you’ll think it’s an art gallery. Read both.
- Support non-profits: Outlets like THE CITY and Documented (which covers immigrants) rely on donations, not just ads.
- Check the "legals": If you want to know what's really happening in your neighborhood, look at the legal notices in the back of your local weekly. That’s where the zoning changes and liquor license applications are hidden.
- Follow the reporters, not just the masthead: In 2026, many of the best NYC journalists have their own newsletters or digital presence. If a reporter leaves the Daily News, follow them to their next gig.
The media landscape in New York is shifting, sure. But as long as there are people living on top of each other in five boroughs, there will be a need for someone to write down what happened yesterday. Whether it’s on a screen or a piece of newsprint that stains your fingers black, the New York press is still the heartbeat of the city.