JOSEPH PULITZER'S BIRTHDAY

Joseph Pulitzer

Journalist Joseph Pulitzer was born today, April 10, in 1847. Of course he is best known for establishing a prize in his name (the Pulitzer, first awarded in 1917, for excellence in newspaper journalism—now also online journalism–, musical composition, and literature). But what you may not know was Pulitzer was also a disillusioned Republican who changed his party to Democratic, and also waged war against William Randolph Hearst through circulation of his newspaper, the New York World (Hearst’s paper was the New York Journal, ironically purchased from Pulitzer’s brother Albert). Further irony: Joseph Pulitzer—associated now with excellence in journalism– was accused during his time of yellow journalism.  Joseph Pulitzer died October 29, 1911.

About these ads