Alfred Balk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alfred Balk
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Alfred Balk in the 1980s
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| Born | July 24, 1930 Oskaloosa, Iowa, U.S.
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| Died | November 25, 2010 Huntley, Illinois, U.S.
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| Education | Northwestern University |
| Occupation | Nonfiction writer, editor |
| Spouse(s) | Phyllis Munter Balk |
Alfred Balk (born July 24, 1930 – died November 25, 2010) was an American reporter, writer, and magazine editor. He wrote important articles about many topics. These included fair housing, the Nation of Islam, the environment, and politics in Illinois.
He became famous for refusing to name a secret source in one of his articles. This led to a very important court case that helped protect journalists' rights. Throughout his career, he worked to make news reporting better. He helped create the National News Council and advised different groups. He even made a film about journalism, narrated by famous news anchor Walter Cronkite. Alfred Balk also wrote several books on various subjects.
Contents
Early Life and First Stories
Alfred William Balk was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa, on July 24, 1930. He grew up in Iowa and Illinois. He started his journalism career early, writing for his high school newspaper. He also worked as a sports reporter for his local newspaper, The Rock Island Argus.
After high school, he studied journalism at Northwestern University. He earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees there. Later, he served in the U.S. Army in Japan. During this time, he wrote for military newspapers and started writing for magazines as a freelancer.
Becoming a Magazine Writer
In 1958, after working for the Chicago Sun-Times, Alfred Balk became a full-time freelance writer. This meant he wrote articles for different magazines.
For eight years, his articles appeared in popular magazines like Harper's, The Nation, and Reader's Digest. He wrote about many interesting topics. He even became president of the Society of Magazine Writers in 1969.
Important Articles and Their Impact
While working for The Saturday Evening Post, he wrote about Chicago's Mayor Richard J. Daley. He also wrote about how winning a TV jackpot almost ruined some people's lives.
He co-wrote an article with Alex Haley (who later wrote Roots). This article, called "Black Merchants of Hate," was about the rise of the Nation of Islam. It was a groundbreaking piece that later helped Alex Haley write his famous book, The Autobiography of Malcolm X.
Alfred Balk gained a lot of attention in 1962 for his article "Confession of a Block-Buster." This story was about a real estate person who used unfair tactics to buy and sell homes. The article made legal history when a group of homeowners tried to force Balk to reveal his secret source. However, courts upheld his right to keep his source confidential. In 1972, the Supreme Court decided not to review the case, making it a landmark decision for journalists.
He also wrote for The Reader’s Digest about issues like problems in nursing homes and threats to public parks. For Harper’s, he wrote about unfair zoning rules and a builder who helped with integration.
Two of his most famous articles for Harper's were very impactful:
- "The Illinois Legislature: A Study in Corruption" (with State Sen. Paul Simon) led to ethics reforms. It also helped Paul Simon become a U.S. Senator.
- "God Is Rich" looked at why religious groups didn't pay taxes. This article led to his book The Religion Business and a larger study called The Free List: Property Without Taxes.
Leading in Magazine Editing
In 1966, Alfred Balk moved to New York. He became an editor for Saturday Review. Three years later, he became the editor of the Columbia Journalism Review. He also taught at Columbia's Graduate School of Journalism. His colleague, James Boylan, said Balk worked hard to make the Review a "tougher and grittier" magazine for reporters.
In 1973, he helped start World Press Review, a monthly magazine that summarized foreign news. He hired other talented journalists to make it a successful publication. His last magazine job was as managing editor for IEEE Spectrum, a publication for engineers. He also advised important groups like the Ford Foundation. In the 1970s, he even gave news comments on CBS Morning News.
Later Life and Books
In 1991, Alfred Balk moved to Syracuse, New York. He taught journalism at Syracuse University. There, he wrote his eighth book, The Rise of Radio: From Marconi Through the Golden Age. This book received good reviews from other media professionals, including Mike Wallace of CBS.
During his life, Alfred Balk wrote over 100 magazine articles and seven books.
Personal Life
Alfred Balk married Phyllis Munter in 1953. They met in high school while on a local radio show. Phyllis was a great support throughout his career. She was also known for her volunteer and charity work.
Alfred Balk passed away from colon cancer on November 25, 2010, at his home in Huntley, Illinois. He was 80 years old. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, and two grandchildren. His wife, Phyllis, passed away a few months later in 2011.
Books
- The Rise of Radio, from Marconi through the Golden Age (McFarland, 2006).
- Movie Palace Masterpiece: Saving Syracuse’s Loew’s State/Landmark Theatre (Landmark Foundation, 1998).
- The Myth of American Eclipse: The New Global Age (Transaction), 1990.
- A Free and Responsive Press (Twentieth Century Fund, Paperback), 1972.
- Our Troubled Press: Ten Years of Columbia Journalism Review co-author with James Boylan, Little Brown, 1971.
- The Free List: Property Without Taxes (Russell Sage/Basic Books), 1970.
- The Religion Business (John Knox Press), 1968.
- Kup’s Chicago: A Many-Faceted and Affectionate Portrait (collaboration with Irv Kupcinet, World), 1962.
Articles
Saturday Evening Post
- “Anyone for Survival” (Mar. 27, 1965)
- “The Last Dinosaur Wins Again” (May 11, 1963)
- “Black Merchants of Hate” (with Alex Haley; Jan. 26, 1963)
- “Why I Quit the Ministry” (with an anonymous ex-minister; Nov. 17, 1962)
- “Confessions of a Block-Buster” (July 14–21, 1962)
- “A Jackpot Almost Ruined Their Lives” (July 15, 1961).
Harper's
- “God Is Rich” (Oct., 1967)
- “Zoning: Invitation to Bribery” (Oct. 1966)
- “The Builder Who Makes Integration Pay” (July, 1965)
- “The Illinois Legislature: A Study in Corruption” (with Sen. Paul Simon; Sept., 1964).
Reader's Digest
- “Water Crisis on the Great Lakes” (Mar., 1965)
- “The Shame of Our Nursing Homes” (Jan., 1965)
- “Danger Rides in Small Boats” (Aug., 1962)
- “My Most Unforgettable Character” (December 1961)
- “Good-Bye to Our Public Parks” (November 1960).
The Reporter
- “Mr. Johnson Finds His Market” (Nov. 12, 1959).
New York Times Magazine
- “When the Wind Blew Black Blizzards” (Nov. 10, 1963).
