Nellie Bly

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Nellie Bly, pioneering journalist and adventurer

Nellie Bly (born Elizabeth Jane Cochran on May 5, 1864 – January 27, 1922) was an American journalist, writer, and adventurer who became widely known for her groundbreaking investigative journalism, particularly her exposé on the conditions of mental institutions and her record-breaking trip around the world. Bly's pioneering work paved the way for future generations of female journalists and helped shape modern investigative reporting.

Early Life

Elizabeth Jane Cochran was born in Cochran's Mills, Pennsylvania, to Michael Cochran, a mill owner, and Mary Jane Cochran. When her father died, her family faced financial difficulties. Elizabeth, who had been known as "Pinky" due to her fondness for wearing pink, took up the pen name "Nellie Bly" when she began writing for the Pittsburgh Dispatch in 1885. The pen name was inspired by the popular song "Nelly Bly" by Stephen Foster.

Journalism Career

Nellie Bly's journalism career began when she responded to a chauvinistic column in the Pittsburgh Dispatch titled "What Girls Are Good For." Her response was so well-written and impassioned that the editor, George Madden, offered her a job as a reporter. Bly focused on writing about the lives of working women, addressing social issues such as women's suffrage, divorce law reform, and labor rights.

In 1887, Bly moved to New York City and joined the staff of the New York World, owned by Joseph Pulitzer. It was during her time at the World that Bly would embark on some of her most famous journalistic endeavors.

Ten Days in a Madhouse

In 1887, Bly went undercover as a patient at the Women's Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell's Island (now Roosevelt Island) in New York City. Posing as mentally ill, Bly was committed to the asylum, where she spent ten days witnessing and experiencing the appalling conditions and treatment of the patients.

Upon her release, Bly published a series of articles that were later compiled into a book titled Ten Days in a Madhouse. Her exposé revealed the horrific conditions in the asylum, including the use of physical abuse, unsanitary living conditions, and the administration of unnecessary medications. Her report prompted a grand jury investigation and eventually led to significant reforms in the treatment of the mentally ill.

Around the World in 72 Days

Inspired by Jules Verne's novel Around the World in Eighty Days, Bly set out to beat the fictional record by circumnavigating the globe in less than 80 days. She began her journey on November 14, 1889, traveling alone with a single small suitcase. Bly's trip took her through England, France, Italy, Egypt, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan before she returned to New York on January 25, 1890. Bly completed her journey in just 72 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes, and 14 seconds, setting a new world record at the time.

Bly's feat made her an international celebrity, and her journey was chronicled in a series of articles for the New York World. Upon her return, she published a book about her experiences titled Around the World in Seventy-Two Days. Her record was eventually broken, but her daring adventure captured the public's imagination and further solidified her reputation as a groundbreaking female journalist.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1895, Nellie Bly married millionaire manufacturer Robert Seaman, and she retired from journalism to help manage his company, the Iron Clad Manufacturing Company. After her husband's death in 1904, Bly returned to journalism, reporting on World War I and women's suffrage. She also wrote a weekly column for the New York Evening Journal.

Nellie Bly passed away from pneumonia on January 27, 1922, at the age of 57. Her pioneering work in investigative journalism and her fearless approach to reporting continue to inspire journalists today. Bly's commitment to exposing social injustices and championing the rights of the disenfranchised laid the groundwork for the modern investigative journalism that exists today.

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