Chicago Tribune Artical Chicago Will Rise Again
A True Lincoln Paper
At the beginning of 1855, friend and fellow publisher Horace Greeley suggested that Medill "get West, young man, and grow upwards with the country." Greeley introduced Medill to Dr. Charles Ray of Galena, Illinois, the publisher of the Galena Jeffersonian. Medill and Ray partnered to purchase an involvement in the failing Chicago Tribune, in which they soon began publishing editorials in support of ending slavery. Tribune circulation quickly rose under their leadership and attracted the involvement of Abraham Lincoln, who visited the Tribune and became a subscriber in early on 1855.
(photograph courtesy of Robert R. McCormick House)
The Tribune was vital to Lincoln's political success, helping plant the Lincoln-Douglas debates during the 1858 Illinois Senate race. Lincoln thought the Tribune'due south contend coverage was so accurate that he used it to publish his book, "Political debates betwixt Hon. Abraham Lincoln and Hon. Stephen A. Douglas in the celebrated Campaign of 1858, in Illinois." Tribune staff published pro-Lincoln editorials, dedicated him from negative articles, sent reporters to Lincoln's speaking engagements and even advertised themselves as the "friends of Lincoln." Lincoln lost the Senate seat, but through the Tribune'southward support, the race made him a household proper name and focused attention on slavery equally the major outcome of the coming 1860 presidential election. The Tribune had by at present established itself equally the about powerful Republican newspaper in the West.
Medill helped secure Chicago as the site for the 1860 Republican National Convention. When the convention began, of the metropolis'south newspapers, only the Tribune endorsed Lincoln. During the convention's tertiary circular of balloting, Medill persuaded the Ohio delegates to switch votes to Lincoln, and in doing so, assured his nomination. The Tribune then went to piece of work promoting Lincoln'southward campaign. Medill assisted Tribune editor John Locke Scripps to publish Lincoln's first biography and the Tribune's support never wavered. The paper was disquisitional, however, of his administration for lack of military aggression, delaying emancipation and allowing the purchase of military waivers.
Tribune Goes to War
Throughout the Civil War, Tribune staff answered their state's phone call for military machine recruitment, including Medill'due south three younger brothers who, like him, were staunch anti-slavery men. The Tribune also acted every bit a watchdog during the war, publishing articles that identified businesses that were illegally profiting off the crisis.
When the Civil War ended in 1865, Medill's back up for a national tariff and other political views resulted in his removal as publisher. Yet, he connected to be a major shareholder and editor at the Tribune and focused his efforts on enacting political reform. He served as secretary of the Republican Central Committee in 1866, and two years later was a delegate to the Illinois Constitutional Convention. In 1871, President Grant appointed him to the first U.S. Ceremonious Service Commission.
Phoenix Rising
That same year, on October eight, 1871, Medill was working at the Tribune when reports of a fire began. Despite assurances that the edifice was fireproof, he ordered the evacuation of the Tribune staff and equipment. As the Tribune building burned, Medill was already securing a new temporary building and presses.
On Oct. 11, as the Great Chicago Fire subsided and people returned to the area, they found only one paper for auction. The headline of the Tribune read, "Cheer Upwards…CHICAGO SHALL RISE AGAIN." The headline brought hope, not merely that the urban center would rebuild, just in Joseph Medill, besides. He was elected mayor and immediately began the rebuilding process. He enacted stronger building codes, built Chicago'due south offset public library and fought corruption inside the Chicago Fire and Police departments. Under his administration, the commencement African-American constabulary officer and Fire Squadron were hired.
Tribune's Old Man
In 1874, Medill purchased controlling interest in the Tribune with a $250,000 loan from friend and local entrepreneur Marshall Field. The Tribune, Medill announced, "will be the organ of no man however loftier; no clique or ring however influential; no faction however fanatical or demonstrative."
In his later years, Medill sat on the Council of the Spelling Reform Clan, fighting for simplified spelling, and led the cosmos of the Western Associated Printing. He likewise used the Tribune's influence to accept Chicago selected every bit the site for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, and then served on the event'due south board.
Medill's Legacy
Medill left a legacy through his grandchildren, who would go some of the almost successful publishers of the 20th century. Medill'south oldest grandson, Joseph Medill McCormick, worked at the Chicago Tribune until he left to serve as a congressman and senator from Illinois. Medill'southward side by side grandson, Joseph Medill Patterson, founded and published the New York Daily News. Medill's granddaughter, Eleanor Medill Patterson, became one of the outset female publishers of a major metropolitan newspaper with the Washington Times-Herald. Medill'southward youngest grandson, Robert R. McCormick, followed in Medill's footsteps equally the driving force of the Chicago Tribune and became 1 of the most powerful media figures of the 20th century.
One Terminal Headline
Knowing he was nearing the end of his life, Medill willed his newspaper to his family, ensuring it would alive on. Hoping to amend his poor health, he traveled to his wintertime dwelling house in San Antonio accompanied by his grandson, Robert McCormick. He passed on March 16, 1899. Medill's concluding words were fitting for a lifelong newspaperman: "What is the news?"
Continuing Medill'southward Legacy
Later on returning from service in WWI, grandsons Colonel Robert McCormick and Captain Joseph Patterson decided to fulfill ane of their grandfather'due south lifelong wishes of creating a journalism school in the Midwest. What more plumbing fixtures place than Northwestern University, where McCormick himself had been a student? McCormick and Patterson began negotiations with Northwestern to make Medill's dream a reality, and in 1920, they reached an agreement to establish the Medill Schoolhouse of Journalism. For the final century, the name Medill has get synonymous with the highest standards of journalistic excellence. At that place tin exist no more than fitting legacy to Joseph Medill's lifetime devoted to journalism than the generations of journalists who have learned their trade at the schoolhouse begetting his name–and who have carried out his call to "write boldly, and tell the truth fearlessly." Further, generations of students who take led the fields of advertising, public relations and integrated marketing communications accept too been educated and learned to tell powerful stories at Medill.
Source: https://100.medill.northwestern.edu/joseph-medill-biography/
0 Response to "Chicago Tribune Artical Chicago Will Rise Again"
Post a Comment