Roy W. Howard facts for kids

Roy W. Howard (1883–1964) was an important American newspaperman. He worked for a long time with the E. W. Scripps Company, a big news organization. He became the president of the E. W. Scripps Company and United Press, which is a news agency. He also led Scripps Howard Newspapers.

Roy W. Howard: A News Legend

Roy W. Howard was a very important person in American newspapers. He started from humble beginnings and worked his way up. He became a leader in the news world. He helped shape how news was gathered and shared for many years.

Starting His News Career

Roy Howard began his journey in newspapers as a paperboy in Indianapolis, Indiana. He quickly showed he was talented and moved up fast. He became a reporter for the Indianapolis Star. Later, he worked as a correspondent in New York for Scripps-McRae Newspapers. By 1912, he had become the president of United Press, a major news agency.

Reporting During Wartime

During the First World War, Roy Howard worked as a war correspondent in Europe. This meant he reported on the war from the front lines. He once accidentally sent a wrong report about the end of the war. This happened four days before the Armistice (peace agreement) was actually signed. Even with this mistake, his good reputation remained strong. In 1917, he became a partner with Scripps. His name was even added to one of their companies, which became the Scripps Howard News Service.

Leading a News Empire

In 1920, Roy Howard moved to work directly with Scripps newspapers. By 1922, he was leading the entire E. W. Scripps Company. He stayed in this top position for forty years! To honor his important role, the Scripps-McRae League was renamed Scripps-Howard Newspapers on November 3, 1922.

Interviewing World Leaders

Even as a top manager, Roy Howard loved to work as a reporter. In 1933, he traveled to Manchuria to cover the Sino-Japanese War. He interviewed Puyi, who was the puppet emperor of Manchukuo. He also met with the Japanese Emperor Hirohito. In 1936, he even interviewed Joseph Stalin, a very powerful leader.

Roy Howard's Papers

You can find a digital collection of Roy Howard's personal papers. These are available through Indiana University. They offer a look into his life and work.