Encyclopedia, Difference between revisions of "Adolph Ochs" - New World
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== Life == | == Life == | ||
| − | Ochs was born to [[German-Jewish]] immigrants, Julius and Bertha Levy Ochs, in [[Cincinnati, Ohio|Cincinnati]], [[Ohio]]. The family moved south to [[Knoxville, Tennessee]] due to his mother's Southern sympathies during the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. Ochs began his newspaper career there at age 11, leaving grammar school to become a printer's assistant at the ''[[Knoxville Chronicle]]''.At the age of 19, he borrowed $800 to purchase a controlling interest in the [[Chattanooga Times]], becoming its publisher. In 1896, at the age of 36, he again borrowed money to purchase ''[[The New York Times]]'', a money-losing newspaper that had a wide range of competitors in [[New York City]]. His focus on objective news reporting (in a time when newspapers were openly and highly partisan), and a well-timed price decrease (from 3 cents per issue to 1 cent) led to its rescue from near oblivion, increasing its readership | + | Ochs was born to [[German-Jewish]] immigrants, Julius and Bertha Levy Ochs, in [[Cincinnati, Ohio|Cincinnati]], [[Ohio]]. The family moved south to [[Knoxville, Tennessee]] due to his mother's Southern sympathies during the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. His father, however, enlisted in the Union army, causing a strain on his home life. Ochs began his newspaper career there at age 11, leaving grammar school to become a printer's assistant at the ''[[Knoxville Chronicle]]''. At the age of 19, he borrowed $800 to purchase a controlling interest in the [[Chattanooga Times]], becoming its publisher. In 1896, at the age of 36, he again borrowed money to purchase ''[[The New York Times]]'', a money-losing newspaper that had a wide range of competitors in [[New York City]]. His focus on objective news reporting (in a time when newspapers were openly and highly partisan), and a well-timed price decrease (from 3 cents per issue to 1 cent) led to its rescue from near oblivion, increasing its readership drastically. <ref name=Johnson> Johnson, Gerald W. 1946. Honorable Titan: A Biographical Study of Adolph S. Ochs. Harper and Brothers. ISBN 978-0837138367. Retrieved June 15, 2007. </ref> |
| − | In 1884, Ochs married Effie Wise, the daughter of [[Rabbi]] [[Isaac Mayer Wise]] of Cincinnati, who was the leading exponent of [[Reform Judaism]] in America and the founder of [[Hebrew Union College]]. | + | In 1884, Ochs married Effie Wise, the daughter of [[Rabbi]] [[Isaac Mayer Wise]] of Cincinnati, who was the leading exponent of [[Reform Judaism]] in America and the founder of [[Hebrew Union College]]. His only daughter, [[Iphigene Bertha Ochs]], married [[Arthur Hays Sulzberger]], who became publisher of the ''Times'' after Adolph died. Her son [[Arthur Ochs Sulzberger|Arthur Ochs "Punch" Sulzberger]] subsequently became publisher of the ''Times'' and her daughter, [[Ruth Holmberg]], became publisher of the ''Chattanooga Times''. <ref name=AJHS> American Jewish Historical Society. 2007. [http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/ochs.html Adolph Ochs.] Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved June 20, 2007. </ref> |
In 1904, Ochs moved the ''Times'' to a newly-built building on Longacre Square in [[Manhattan]], which the City of New York then renamed as [[Times Square]]. On New Year's Eve 1904, Ochs had pyrotechnists illuminate his new building at [[One Times Square]] with a [[fireworks]] show from street level. | In 1904, Ochs moved the ''Times'' to a newly-built building on Longacre Square in [[Manhattan]], which the City of New York then renamed as [[Times Square]]. On New Year's Eve 1904, Ochs had pyrotechnists illuminate his new building at [[One Times Square]] with a [[fireworks]] show from street level. | ||
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== Career == | == Career == | ||
| − | At the age of 11 he started at the Knoxville Chronicle as an office boy, and at 13 he became an apprentice. In 1877 Ochs joined in a fruitless effort to establish the Chattanooga Dispatch. The owner of the Chattanooga Times, victor over the Dispatch, was in difficulty and offered to sell to Ochs, then not old enough to vote. On July 2, 1878, with $37.50 working capital, Ochs became a publisher upon handing over $250, which he had borrowed, and assuming $1,500 in debts. He showed a profit the first year. In 1892 Ochs built the Chattanooga Times Building, an outstanding addition to the developing city | + | At the age of 11 he started at the Knoxville Chronicle as an office boy, and at 13 he became an apprentice. In 1877 Ochs joined in a fruitless effort to establish the Chattanooga Dispatch. The owner of the Chattanooga Times, victor over the Dispatch, was in difficulty and offered to sell to Ochs, then not old enough to vote. On July 2, 1878, with $37.50 working capital, Ochs became a publisher upon handing over $250, which he had borrowed, and assuming $1,500 in debts. He showed a profit the first year. In 1892 Ochs built the Chattanooga Times Building, an outstanding addition to the developing city. <ref name=Johnson/> |
| − | In 1896 Ochs acquired control of the New York Times. He mortgaged and risked everything to "conduct a high standard newspaper, clean, dignified and trustworthy." The New York Times followed the slogan "All the News That's Fit to Print." From 1896 to 1935 he raised the daily circulation enormously. Ochs started the Sunday book supplement within 10 years after taking over. In 1913 he began publishing the New York Times Index. In 1925 Ochs started advancing | + | In 1896 Ochs acquired control of the [[New York Times]]. He mortgaged and risked everything to "conduct a high standard newspaper, clean, dignified and trustworthy." The New York Times followed the slogan "All the News That's Fit to Print." When he acquired the paper, it had less than ten thousand readers. From 1896 to 1935 he raised the daily circulation enormously, and by the 1920s, the newspaper had nearly eight hundred thousand readers. <ref name=AJHS/> Ochs started the Sunday book supplement within 10 years after taking over. In 1913 he began publishing the New York Times Index. In 1925 Ochs started advancing fifty thousand dollars annually for ten years toward the cost of producing the Dictionary of American Biography. He established Current History magazine in 1914. From 1900 until his death, he was a director for the [[Associated Press]].<ref name=Johnson/> |
Ochs also controlled the [[Philadelphia Times]] and the [[Philadelphia Public Ledger]], which he merged and in 1913 sold to Cyrus H. K. Curtis. Curtis merged sections of this acquisition with [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]], which remains one of Philadelphia's most prominent newspapers. | Ochs also controlled the [[Philadelphia Times]] and the [[Philadelphia Public Ledger]], which he merged and in 1913 sold to Cyrus H. K. Curtis. Curtis merged sections of this acquisition with [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]], which remains one of Philadelphia's most prominent newspapers. | ||
== Legacy == | == Legacy == | ||
| + | The most important enterprise of Ochs' life was his recreation of the [[New York Times]]. Ochs business tactics of steering away from sensationalist news and lowering the price of the paper, as well as relying on the rise of technology, gave a new breath of life to the ailing paper. To this day, the descendants of Ochs still maintain control over the paper, and it has become a pre-eminent American daily paper with a daily circulation of well over one million. It has won ninety-four [[Pulitzer Prizes]], including a record of seven in 2002 alone. This can be considered ironic, due to Ochs competition and rejection of the [[yellow journalism]] that his peer, [[Joseph Pulitzer]], engaged in with his newspaper, the [[New York World]]. | ||
== Major Works == | == Major Works == | ||
Revision as of 05:56, 20 June 2007
Adolph Simon Ochs (b. March 12, 1858–April 8, 1935) was an American newspaper publisher and former owner of The New York Times and the Chattanooga Times (now the Chattanooga Times Free Press). Contrary to many of his peers at the time, he denounced yellow journalism and sensationalism, concerning himself only with trustworthy reporting and writing.
Life
Ochs was born to German-Jewish immigrants, Julius and Bertha Levy Ochs, in Cincinnati, Ohio. The family moved south to Knoxville, Tennessee due to his mother's Southern sympathies during the Civil War. His father, however, enlisted in the Union army, causing a strain on his home life. Ochs began his newspaper career there at age 11, leaving grammar school to become a printer's assistant at the Knoxville Chronicle. At the age of 19, he borrowed $800 to purchase a controlling interest in the Chattanooga Times, becoming its publisher. In 1896, at the age of 36, he again borrowed money to purchase The New York Times, a money-losing newspaper that had a wide range of competitors in New York City. His focus on objective news reporting (in a time when newspapers were openly and highly partisan), and a well-timed price decrease (from 3 cents per issue to 1 cent) led to its rescue from near oblivion, increasing its readership drastically. [1]
In 1884, Ochs married Effie Wise, the daughter of Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise of Cincinnati, who was the leading exponent of Reform Judaism in America and the founder of Hebrew Union College. His only daughter, Iphigene Bertha Ochs, married Arthur Hays Sulzberger, who became publisher of the Times after Adolph died. Her son Arthur Ochs "Punch" Sulzberger subsequently became publisher of the Times and her daughter, Ruth Holmberg, became publisher of the Chattanooga Times. [2]
In 1904, Ochs moved the Times to a newly-built building on Longacre Square in Manhattan, which the City of New York then renamed as Times Square. On New Year's Eve 1904, Ochs had pyrotechnists illuminate his new building at One Times Square with a fireworks show from street level.
One of his nephews, Julius Ochs Adler, worked at the Times for more than 40 years, becoming general manager of The New York Times in 1935, after Ochs died. Another, John Bertram Oakes, the son of his brother George Washington Ochs Oakes, became editorial page editor of the Times' editorial page in 1961, which he edited until 1976.
Career
At the age of 11 he started at the Knoxville Chronicle as an office boy, and at 13 he became an apprentice. In 1877 Ochs joined in a fruitless effort to establish the Chattanooga Dispatch. The owner of the Chattanooga Times, victor over the Dispatch, was in difficulty and offered to sell to Ochs, then not old enough to vote. On July 2, 1878, with $37.50 working capital, Ochs became a publisher upon handing over $250, which he had borrowed, and assuming $1,500 in debts. He showed a profit the first year. In 1892 Ochs built the Chattanooga Times Building, an outstanding addition to the developing city. [1]
In 1896 Ochs acquired control of the New York Times. He mortgaged and risked everything to "conduct a high standard newspaper, clean, dignified and trustworthy." The New York Times followed the slogan "All the News That's Fit to Print." When he acquired the paper, it had less than ten thousand readers. From 1896 to 1935 he raised the daily circulation enormously, and by the 1920s, the newspaper had nearly eight hundred thousand readers. [2] Ochs started the Sunday book supplement within 10 years after taking over. In 1913 he began publishing the New York Times Index. In 1925 Ochs started advancing fifty thousand dollars annually for ten years toward the cost of producing the Dictionary of American Biography. He established Current History magazine in 1914. From 1900 until his death, he was a director for the Associated Press.[1]
Ochs also controlled the Philadelphia Times and the Philadelphia Public Ledger, which he merged and in 1913 sold to Cyrus H. K. Curtis. Curtis merged sections of this acquisition with The Philadelphia Inquirer, which remains one of Philadelphia's most prominent newspapers.
Legacy
The most important enterprise of Ochs' life was his recreation of the New York Times. Ochs business tactics of steering away from sensationalist news and lowering the price of the paper, as well as relying on the rise of technology, gave a new breath of life to the ailing paper. To this day, the descendants of Ochs still maintain control over the paper, and it has become a pre-eminent American daily paper with a daily circulation of well over one million. It has won ninety-four Pulitzer Prizes, including a record of seven in 2002 alone. This can be considered ironic, due to Ochs competition and rejection of the yellow journalism that his peer, Joseph Pulitzer, engaged in with his newspaper, the New York World.
Major Works
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Johnson, Gerald W. 1946. Honorable Titan: A Biographical Study of Adolph S. Ochs. Harper and Brothers. ISBN 978-0837138367. Retrieved June 15, 2007.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 American Jewish Historical Society. 2007. Adolph Ochs. Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved June 20, 2007.
Reference
- The Trust: The Private and Powerful Family behind The New York Times, Susan E. Tifft and Alex S. Jones, Little, Brown and Company, 1999.
External links
- Obituary, NY Times, April 9, 1935, Adolph S. Ochs Dead at 77; Publisher of Times Since 1896
- Jewish Virtual Library - Adolph Ochs
- Tennessee Encyclopedia article
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