The world of journalism is ever-changing, but it is important to recognize the "journo heroes" that have paved the way for future journalists to come.
Let's talk about a few, shall we?
Nellie Bly (1864-1922)
Elizabeth Cochrane Seaman, better known by her pen name Nellie Bly, was an American journalist, industrialist, inventor and charity worker. Most notably, Bly was the most famous American woman reporter of the 19th century.
Oh, and she just happened to travel around the world in 72 days. Try doing that yourself.
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| Fun fact: When Nellie Bly began her journalism career in 1895, it was deemed inappropriate for a woman to write under her own name, hence the change in name. Image retrieved from Kickstarter |
Bly began her career in 1885 in Pennsylvania as a reporter for the Pittsburgh Dispatch.
"She had sent an angry letter to the editor in response to an article the newspaper had printed entitled 'What Girls Are For,'" according to a January 2021 Britannica article.
In fact, the editor was so impressed with Bly's writing that he gave her a job. I often wonder what would have happened if the editor of the Pittsburgh Dispatch didn't give her a job. That man deserves a gold star.
Bly is also known for her investigation of conditions at an insane asylum, which sparked legal action and improvement of mentally ill patients.
To find out more about Bly's experience in investigating an insane asylum, watch the video below:
Needless to say, Bly paved the way for future female journalists to come.
Frederick Douglass (1818-1895)
Frederick Douglass, born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, was an American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer and statesman. And of course, he was a journo hero.
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| Fun fact: Frederick Douglass was one of the few men who attended the Woman's Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York. Image retrieved from The Hoover Cardinal |
Douglass rose to fame in 1845 following the publication of his first book: The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, Written By Himself. Throughout his life and career, Douglass fought for the abolition of slavery.
One of the major ways Douglass advocated for change was using his voice through his newspapers. In the earlier part of his career, he worked for William Llyod Garrison's abolitionist newspaper: The Liberator. In 1847, Douglass later went on to publish his own newspaper The North Star.
In 1851, Douglass created Frederick Douglass' Paper. Fast forward eight years later, Douglass published a monthly paper entitled Douglass's Monthly. He was quite the busy and accomplished man.
To learn more about Douglass's life, watch the following video:
Jacob Riis (1849-1914)
Jacob August Riis was a Danish-American social reformer, journalist and social documentary photographer.
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| Fun fact: Jacob Riis worked in carpentry, mining and other odd jobs prior to his success. Image retrieved from Times for Kids |
His book How the Other Half Lives (1890), shocked the "conscience" of his readers with the description of slum conditions in New York City. Was this cancel culture before cancel culture existed? Riis was definitely out to expose people. And at the same time, his book helped contribute to the cause of urban reform in America.
In addition to Riis's written work, his photographs helped illustrate the slum conditions. In the late 1880s, he began photographing the New York City slums with a flash lamp, which later became known as flashbulb photography.
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| Shelter for immigrants in a New York City tenement. Photo by Jacob Riis |
Riis used flashbulb photography to dramatize his lectures and books. However, it was his writing style, along with his revelations, that gave him the audience he amassed. Even former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt read Riis's book.
How the Other Half Lives caught the attention of many that it "stimulated the first significant New York legislation to curb tenement house evils," according to Britannica.
More importantly, Riis's book became an important predecessor to the muckraking journalism that became increasingly popular after 1990.
To learn more about Riis's life, watch the following video:
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