“The power to shape the future of the Republic will be in the hands of the journalists of the next generation,” argued Joseph Pulitzer. The Hungarian-American publisher is considered one of the founders of “yellow journalism”. He was born on April 10, 1847 in Mako, Hungary. The journalist managed to establish himself and leave his mark behind. His precious legacy weighs on future generations. He had declared that “Our democracy and its press will rise and fall together.” He had the gift of bringing to the surface news that aroused intense public interest while he shaped a journalistic style that is still used today. He was ardently desirous of helping to attract to this profession young men of character and ability. He also sought to help those already engaged in journalism to acquire the highest moral and intellectual training. Let’s discover the life of a journalist whose name remained indelible in time.
The beginning of everything
Pulitzer came from a large family. Once his father retired from the grain trading business in 1853, his family moved to Budapest. Joseph lost his father at the age of 11 facing the pain. At the same time, in August 1864 he enlisted in Hamburg, Germany to fight for the Union in the American Civil War. After the end of the war, the publisher went to New York to find work. However, intense competition with other civil war veterans left him unemployed. That was just the beginning for the Pulitzer. Difficulties did not stand in the way of a man who was deeply interested in the progress and elevation of journalism. The experiences and obstacles he faced made him an influential person in the minds of others.
“My goal is to help the poor. The rich can help themselves. I believe in self-made people”
His friends called him “Shakespeare” because of his intense love of reading. It was started by a German-language newspaper, the Westliche Post. In 1872 he bought the Post newspaper. Pulitzer with his pen exposed everything illegal. Every day he exposed tax dodgers, gambling rings, insurance fraud, monopolies, bankers and leveled corruption. Investigative journalism was taking shape on newspaper paper. He then bought the New York World. This was followed by the karmic acquaintance with the feminist and pioneer of investigative journalism Nellie Bly. Joseph, wanting to boost sales, began using sad headlines and images, giving birth to “yellow journalism.” He had stated “They call me the father of illustrated journalism. What nonsense! I had a small newspaper, which had been dead for years, and I was trying in every way to increase its circulation. What could I use for bait! But of course an image”.
At the same time, within Joseph Pulitzer, political activism was strongly born. In 1871 he helped organize the Republican Party and was elected to the Missouri State Legislature. He then became a lifelong Democrat.
The publisher dedicated his life to fighting social injustices through journalism. He didn’t take a single step back looking resolutely ahead. He established and consolidated his vision while becoming the reason for many to follow the profession. In 1903 he helped found the Columbia University School of Journalism. According to his Will the Pulitzer Prize was established. The journalist claimed that “I will always fight for progress and reform, I will never tolerate injustice or corruption, I will always fight demagogues of all parties. I will always oppose the privileged classes.”
