It primarily serves Darwin and the rest of the Northern Territory and it covers local, national, and world news as well as sports and business.

In 1949, they approached a Canberra-based journalist, Don Whitington, to establish a rival newspaper, to act as a counterbalance from the bias perceived by the Federal Government from The Northern Standard.

Whitington formed Northern Territory News Services Pty Ltd, aided by Eric White and local printer John Coleman.

[10][11] Originally, the paper was quite politically active being a noted advocate of greater self-governance powers for the Northern Territory as well as being vocal on a number of other local issues.

However, the paper gradually lapsed into the current apolitical stance it maintains presently with its most noted feature being its unique headlines and front pages.