Dorothy Thompson

Dorothy Thompson, an eminent American journalist and radio broadcaster, was born on July 9, 1893, in Lancaster, New York. Her noteworthy legacy is underscored by the distinction of being the first American journalist expelled from Nazi Germany in 1934, a time when she stood as one of the few female news commentators broadcasting on radio during the 1930s. Thompson’s indomitable spirit and professional prowess rendered her a trailblazer for women in journalism, culminating in her recognition as one of the preeminent journalists of the 20th century.

Commencing her career as a teacher in Memphis, Tennessee, Thompson embarked on a trajectory that ultimately led her to co-own and contribute to the Memphis Free Speech and Headlight newspaper. Her incisive reporting, which encapsulated incidents of racial segregation and inequality, resonated nationally through dissemination in Black-owned newspapers, marking the inception of her enduring commitment to journalistic rigor.

Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Thompson’s advocacy reverberated, as she implored her compatriots to conscientiously attend to the imminent threat posed by Nazi Germany to democracy and the welfare of Europe’s Jewish population. Simultaneously, she exhibited an unwavering commitment to women’s rights and the suffrage movement, playing a pivotal role in establishing notable women’s organizations.

Thompson’s contributions to the journalistic milieu have been nothing short of invaluable, securing her enduring status as a respected and influential figure within the industry. Her multifaceted impact is exemplified by the array of awards and accolades she garnered, including a Pulitzer Prize special citation in 2020 for her “outstanding and courageous reporting on the horrific and vicious violence against African Americans during the era of lynching.” The expansive reach of her commentaries, disseminated through both print and radio from the 1930s through the 1950s, bore testament to her widespread influence. Notably, her newspaper column “On the Record” attained immense popularity and achieved syndication to as many as 170 daily papers from 1941 to 1958, further attesting to the breadth of her journalistic influence.

“Dorothy Thompson | American Journalist and Writer | Britannica.” Www.britannica.com, www.britannica.com/biography/Dorothy-Thompson.

“Dorothy Thompson (1893-1961) | Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project | the George Washington University.” Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project, erpapers.columbian.gwu.edu/dorothy-thompson-1893-1961.