Pulitzer, Joseph

Joseph Pulitzer (1847–1911) was a powerful and influential newspaper editor and publisher in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His newspapers, especially the New York World, were known for featuring large illustrations and news aimed at the common man. These style elements, while revolutionary during Pulitzer’s tenure as publisher, later became standard in nearly all modern newspapers. During the late 1890s, Pulitzer engaged in a battle for circulation with competing publisher William Randolph Hearst (1863–1951) that led to the sensationalistic style of news reporting known as yellow journalism. In his will, Pulitzer allocated large portions of his fortune to establish a school for journalism at Columbia University and the prestigious Pulitzer Prize awards. This entry examines Pulitzer’s early life, political ...