Joseph Lelyveld facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph Lelyveld
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| Born |
Joseph Salem Lelyveld
April 5, 1937 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
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| Died | January 5, 2024 (aged 86) New York City, U.S.
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| Education | Harvard University (BA, MA) Columbia University (MS) |
| Occupation | Journalist, author |
| Known for | Executive editor of The New York Times (1994–2001), earning a Pulitzer Prize for Move Your Shadow |
| Children | 2 daughters |
Joseph Salem Lelyveld (born April 5, 1937 – died January 5, 2024) was an American journalist and author. He was best known for being the top editor, called the executive editor, of The New York Times newspaper. He held this important role from 1994 to 2001. Joseph Lelyveld also won a special award called the Pulitzer Prize for his writing.
Contents
Early Life and School
Joseph Lelyveld was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on April 5, 1937. His father, Arthur Lelyveld, was a rabbi and worked to make changes in politics. Joseph was mostly raised by other family members in New York City. This was because his parents separated.
He went to Harvard University and earned two degrees there. He got a BA degree in English in 1958. The next year, in 1959, he earned an MA in American history. He also received another degree, an MS, from Columbia University in 1960.
His Career
Working at The New York Times
Joseph Lelyveld worked at The New York Times for almost 40 years. He started there in 1962. He began as a copy editor, which means he checked articles for mistakes. Within three years, he became a foreign correspondent. This job meant he reported news from other countries.
Later, he became the foreign editor of the newspaper. He also served as its managing editor. Finally, he became the executive editor, the highest editorial position.
Writing Books
Joseph Lelyveld wrote several books. One of his famous books is Move Your Shadow: South Africa, Black and White. This book was based on his news reports from Johannesburg, South Africa. He reported from there in the 1960s and 1980s.
In 1986, he won the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction for Move Your Shadow. This award is one of the highest honors for writers in the United States.
Another book he wrote was Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle with India. This book caused some discussion in India. The book was banned in the Indian state of Gujarat for a time. Joseph Lelyveld disagreed with the ban. He said that his book did not claim anything false about Mahatma Gandhi.
His Family Life
Joseph Lelyveld was married to Carolyn Fox. They were married from 1959 until she passed away in 2004. They had two daughters together. One of his daughters, Nita Lelyveld, became a city editor for a newspaper in 2021.
Joseph Lelyveld passed away on January 5, 2024. He was 86 years old. He died at his home in Manhattan due to health problems related to Parkinson's disease.
Books by Joseph Lelyveld
- Move Your Shadow: South Africa, Black and White (1985)
- Omaha Blues: A Memory Loop (2005)
- Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle with India (2011)
- His Final Battle: The Last Months of Franklin Roosevelt (2016)
