Pulitzer's Hard Work In Journalism Made Her Almost Blind To Death

Joseph Pulitzer. (Foto: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - On October 29, 1911, Joseph Pulitzer heard his German secretary read aloud about King Louis XI of France. As the secretary neared the end of the reading, Pulitzer said in German: "Leise, ganz leise" (Gentle, gentle enough) and passed away.

Pulitzer is the publisher of the St Louis Post-Dispatch and New York World newspapers. He became a prominent national figure of the Democratic Party and was elected a congressman from New York.

The Pulitzer also battled big business and corruption, and helped guard the Statue of Liberty in New York. Additionally, the Pulitzer is the originator of the Pulitzer Prize, the world's most prestigious journalism award.

The man born in 1847 has an incredible career opportunity that comes in a unique way. The Pulitzer was in the library chess room, observing the habits of two players and the Pulitzer shrewdly criticized a move.

The cast, impressed, then engaged the Pulitzer in conversation. The players were the editors of the leading German language daily, Westliche Post, and job offers followed.

As quoted from pulitzer.org, Thursday, October 28, it was stated that in 1872 the young Pulitzer, who had built a reputation as a tireless, enterprising journalist, was offered a controlling stake in the newspaper by a nearly bankrupt owner.

At 25, Pulitzer became a publisher and there followed a series of ingenious business deals from which he emerged in 1878 as the owner of the St Louis Post-Dispatch, and a rising figure in the journalism scene.

Pulitzer then married Kate Davis, a prominent woman in Washington. Pulitzer later became an American citizen and had other careers as a speaker, writer and editor who spoke English very well.

Dressed elegantly, with a reddish brown beard and wearing glasses made the Pulitzer look even more handsome. Pulitzer began associating with the social elite of St. Louis, enjoyed dancing at fancy parties and riding horses in the park. This lifestyle was abruptly abandoned when he became the owner of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

James Wyman Barrett, the latest editor of The New York World, noted in his biography 'Joseph Pulitzer and His World' how Pulitzer organized the St Louis Post-Dispatch, "working at his desk from morning to midnight or after, drawing himself in on every detail of the paper. "

Pulitzer pleaded with the public to accept that his journal was their supporter. Pulitzer also released investigative and editorial articles attacking government corruption, tax evaders and gamblers.

This attraction was effective, circulation increased, and the newspapers prospered. Pulitzer is delighted to know that in the implementation of the Pulitzer Prize system he later founded, more awards in journalism were awarded for exposing corruption than any other subject.

Pulitzer paid dearly for his unsparing hard work in his paper. His health deteriorated his eyes were damaged. Pulitzer's health continued to decline and was severely depressed due to an illness that made him very sensitive to noise. Pulitzer then went abroad to seek treatment, but failed to find it.

The next two decades of his life he spent most of his life in a soundproof "safe" on top of a yacht. During those years, although he traveled extensively, Pulitzer managed to maintain the editorial and business direction of his newspaper. To ensure the confidentiality of his communications, he relied on a code that filled a book of about 20,000 names and terms.

In 1912, one year after Pulitzer's death, Columbia School of Journalism was founded. The first Pulitzer Prize was awarded in 1917 under the supervision of an advisory board to which he entrusted his mandate.

Pulitzer envisioned an advisory board made up mostly of newspaper publishers. Others include the president of Columbia University and scholars, and "gentlemen who are not journalists or editors."