Joseph Pulitzer (Pulitzer Joseph)

(1847-1911)
Born April 10, 1847 in Mako (Hungary). He spent his childhood in Budapest, where he received a classical education. At age 17 he emigrated to the United States, until 1865 served as a private in the 1 st New York Cavalry Regiment under the command of Carl Schurz. After demobilization he remained virtually penniless. He was in poverty until 1867, when he finally entered a reporter in 'Vestlihe post' ( 'Westliche Post'), the German daily newspaper in St. Louis, which was edited by all the same Schurz. Then he received a certificate of U.S. citizenship. Pulitzer quickly became a prominent figure both on the local political scene, and in journalism. In 1869 he was elected to the legislature of Missouri and also worked as a special correspondent 'Vestlihe post' in the State Congress. Subsequently, he became police commissioner in St. Louis and a supporter of the liberal-republican movement. In 1872 he was appointed secretary of the liberal-Republican Congress in Cincinnati, where Horace Greeley was elected as presidential candidate. After the failure of the party in the elections Pulitzer joined the Democratic Party.
In 1871, Pulitzer became a co-owner 'Vestlihe post', but in 1873 sold his share. In 1876 he received the right to engage legal services in the District of Columbia. In winter 1876-1877, he worked as a Washington correspondent for The New York Times'. In 1878 he bought the St. Louis 'Dispatch' and St. Louis 'Post' and incorporated these into a single newspaper - 'St. Louis postdispatch'. He vigorously used the power of the press and its 'Postdispatch' soon became one of the most influential and profitable publications in the American West. In 1880 he was elected a delegate to the democratic congress and failed congressional elections.

In 1883, Pulitzer bought from Jay Gould's 'New York World' and by 1885 turned it into a popular newspaper breaking news with illustrations and comics. This orientation 'World', as well as its attraction to uncover corruption, dubbed the 'yellow press'. By the end of the century 'World' eclipsed Hearst 'Evening Journal', and Pulitzer publishing, remaining leader of the Democratic Party, took the conservative position. In 1885, Pulitzer was elected to Congress from the State of New York, but failing health forced him to retire next year. In August 1903 Pulitzer for personal funds created the Department of Journalism at Columbia University and established the Pulitzer Prizes. He also made a number of generous donations from philanthropic organizations. Pulitzer died in Charleston (pc. South Carolina) October 29, 1911.