Joseph Pulitzer
Joseph Pulitzer
#### Full Name and Common Aliases
Joseph Pulitzer, born Judás Löw Beer, was a Hungarian-American journalist and publisher.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on April 14, 1847, in Mád, Kingdom of Hungary (now part of Hungary), he passed away on October 29, 1911, in Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Pulitzer was a Hungarian-American journalist and publisher by profession. He is best known for his work as the founder and owner of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the New York World newspapers.
Early Life and Background
Joseph Pulitzer's early life was marked by hardship and determination. Born into a Jewish family, he was raised in Mád, Hungary, where his father, Anselm Beer, was a Jewish merchant. In 1852, after facing persecution for being Jewish, the family moved to Szilágycseh, where Pulitzer received a basic education. He later moved to Leipnik, Austria-Hungary (now part of Slovakia), and began working as an apprentice in a printing house.
Early Career
Pulitzer's entry into journalism began when he started writing for local newspapers at the age of 18. In 1864, during the Austro-Prussian War, he was forced to flee Hungary after being arrested by Austrian authorities for his anti-Austrian writings. Pulitzer then settled in Buda (now part of Budapest), where he founded and edited a newspaper called _Pester Lloyd_. His writing career led him to work as a journalist in several European cities before emigrating to the United States in 1864.
Major Accomplishments
Pulitzer's achievements in journalism are numerous. He was instrumental in creating the Pulitzer Prize, which recognizes outstanding work in journalism and literature. The prize, established in his will in 1904, has become a prestigious award in its field.
Notable Works or Actions
In addition to establishing the Pulitzer Prize, Joseph Pulitzer is credited with several significant accomplishments in journalism:
He founded the St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper in 1878 and transformed it into one of the most influential newspapers in the United States.
In 1883, he purchased the New York World newspaper and used its platform to advocate for reforms, including women's suffrage and workers' rights.
* Pulitzer was a key figure in exposing corruption in the United States government during the Spanish-American War. He published a series of articles revealing the mistreatment of American soldiers by their commanding officers.
Impact and Legacy
Joseph Pulitzer's impact on journalism is undeniable. His commitment to truth, fairness, and accountability has left a lasting legacy that continues to inspire journalists around the world. The Pulitzer Prize he established remains one of the most respected awards in the field.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Joseph Pulitzer is widely quoted and remembered for his emphasis on the importance of journalism in holding those in power accountable. His quotes often emphasize the need for a free press, and his legacy continues to inspire journalists to uphold these values.
As a pioneer in journalism, Joseph Pulitzer's work has left an indelible mark on the industry. His commitment to truth, fairness, and accountability has set a high standard for journalists around the world.
Quotes by Joseph Pulitzer

Whatever my trouble had been at first, it developed into separation of the retina in both eyes. From the day on which I first consulted the oculist up to the present time, about twenty-four years, I have only been three times in 'The World' building. Most people think I'm dead or living in Europe in complete retirement.

If a newspaper is to be of real service to the public, it must have a big circulation: first, because its news and its comments must reach the largest possible number of people; second, because circulation means advertising, and advertising means money, and money means independence.

It is to such men as Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson and Jackson and Franklin, all most lowly born, that we owe most of our greatness as a nation.

If you will give the matter a moment's thought, you'll see that memory is the highest faculty of the human mind.

I can do much, I can do everything for a man who will be my friend. I can give him power; I can give him wealth. I can give him reputation - the power, the wealth, the reputation which come to a man who speaks to a million people a day in the columns of a great paper.

What I say is that there are not half a dozen papers in the United States which tamper with the news, which publish what they know to be false. But if I thought I had done no better than that, I would be ashamed to own a paper. You have to make everyone connected with the paper believe that accuracy is to a newspaper what virtue is to a woman.

I breakfast when I get up, lunch when I get the chance. If I never get it, I forget it. Sometimes I dine at seven, sometimes at midnight, sometimes not at all; and I never get to bed until four or five in the morning. Everything depends on the news; the hours make no difference to me.

I really think one of the most extraordinary things in the world is the amount of noise a child can make.

We are a democracy, and there is only one way to get a democracy on its feet in the matter of its individual, its social, its municipal, its State, its national conduct, and that is by keeping the public informed about what is going on.

Don't be sensitive if I should, in future, seem brusque, harsh, or even unjust in my criticism. I sincerely hope I never shall be; but if I should, remember that fault-finding is perhaps both my privilege and my weakness, that correction is the only road to improvement, and that my quick temper and illness are entitled to some consideration.