Pulitzer and What He Prized

Joseph Pulitzer revolutionized American journalism, incorporating illustrations, color, and interviews, plus new features like sports, fiction, financial news, and women's interest stories. More important, Pulitzer was a steadfast believer in democracy, the rights of the common man, and freedom of the press. This fine documentary traces Pulitzer's life from his beginnings as a penniless immigrant from Hungary, and his days as a crusading newspaper owner on America's frontier, to his glory years at the helm of the New York World, where he championed the completion of the Statue of Liberty, battled monopolies and trusts, and defended the independence of the press in a landmark dispute with President Theodore Roosevelt. The film depicts Pulitzer's brash personality, his loving home life, and the blindness which cut short his career and led to a nomad's existence, but never ended his passion for journalism. The World used aggressive promotion drives, attracted world class writers, even employed "yellow journalism" and sensationalism, but people read and loved the paper for Pulitzer's fierce devotion to the common man. By providing endowments for a journalism school and the Pulitzer prizes, the film reminds us that Pulitzer is still a positive influence on today's newspaper scene. This first rate biography is highly recommended for school and public libraries. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)