Nieman 80: Journalism That Makes a Difference
How are great journalists made? Often, it's pieces of great journalism that help form them, influencing their lives or careers in an indelible way. To celebrate the Nieman Foundation for Journalism's 80th anniversary in 2018, we asked Nieman Fellows to share works of journalism that in some way left a significant mark on them, their work or their beat, their country, or their culture. The result is what Nieman curator Ann Marie Lipinski calls "an accidental curriculum that has shaped generations of journalists"—a collection of 80 articles and investigations, books, photos, cartoons, podcasts, virtual reality installations, and more, works that have endured long after Niemans first read, listened, or viewed them. Niemans reflect on the 80 pieces of journalism that have influenced them most.
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More Nieman Fellows on exemplary journalism that influenced them[/sidebar]
The journalism that most influenced me was Robert Caro’s book “The Power Broker.” One of its messages is that Robert Moses had enormous, expansive influence on the city of New York, its shape and substance, but his personal impact was not fully revealed until Caro, NF ’66, wrote the book about him. I always recommend it to young journalists because it is a cautionary tale about the need to ferret out the exercise of power, the need to find those who are making things happen and shed light on their activities. There’s never been a more important time for American journalists to do that. There is always a need not only to speak truth to power but also to speak truth about the power brokers.
[sidebar head="The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York" Deck="By Robert Caro
Alfred A. Knopf, 1974" style="full"]
Book
[/sidebar]
More Nieman Fellows on exemplary journalism that influenced them[/sidebar]
The journalism that most influenced me was Robert Caro’s book “The Power Broker.” One of its messages is that Robert Moses had enormous, expansive influence on the city of New York, its shape and substance, but his personal impact was not fully revealed until Caro, NF ’66, wrote the book about him. I always recommend it to young journalists because it is a cautionary tale about the need to ferret out the exercise of power, the need to find those who are making things happen and shed light on their activities. There’s never been a more important time for American journalists to do that. There is always a need not only to speak truth to power but also to speak truth about the power brokers.
[sidebar head="The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York" Deck="By Robert Caro
Alfred A. Knopf, 1974" style="full"]
Book
[/sidebar]
