Description
Book SynopsisThe captivating story of an influential journalist demonstrates the value of a free press to democratic society In the decades between the Great Depression and the advent of cable television, when daily newspapers set the conversational agenda in the United States, the best reporter in the business was a rumpled, hard-drinking figure named Homer Bigart. Despite two Pulitzers and a host of other prizes, he quickly faded from public view after retirement. Few today know the extent to which he was esteemed by his peers. Get the Damn Story is the first comprehensive biography to encompass all of Bigart’s journalism, including both his war reporting and coverage of domestic events. Writing for the New York Herald Tribune and the New York Times, Bigart brought to life many events that defined the era—the wars in Europe, the Pacific, Korea, and Vietnam; the civil rights movement; the creation of Israel; the end of colonialism in Africa; and the Cuban Revolution. The news media’s collective credibility may have diminished in the age of Twitter, but Bigart’s career demonstrates the value to a democratic society of a relentless, inquiring mind examining its institutions and the people who run them. The principle remains the same today: the truth matters. Historians and journalists alike will find Bigart’s story well worth reading.
Trade ReviewSalted with pungent excerpts from Bigart's writing, this biography captures Bigart's distinctive style Get the Damn Story reminds readers of what has been lost with the ongoing decline of the daily print press. * CHOICE connect *
Table of ContentsIntroduction1. From Small Town to Gotham2. Homer Bigart Goes to War3. The Italian Campaign4. The Pacific and the Bomb5. Cold War, Tough Calls6. Conflicts in Greece7. Two Wars in Korea8. The Red Menace, at Home and Abroad9. Leaving the Sinking Ship10. Cuba, Congo, and Cannibals11. Reality Check in Vietnam12. The Great Strike and a New Alice13. Civil Rights, in Many Forms14. The Long Roads EndEpilogue: What Would Homer Do?NotesBibliographyIndex
