It’s probably no secret that the journalism profession involves a huge amount of risks. Nothing is surprising about this. After all, if a journalist covers “acute” problems of society in their materials, they will soon have many enemies. This is because the authorities and certain public circles do not always like such “frankness with readers”.
Many people know and remember James Breslin as a talented American journalist and writer.
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He continued to write a column for the New York Daily News until his death.
James became the author of a large number of novels. However, it was his journalistic career that brought him real fame. His materials were always characterized by relevance, and one could learn about the most intimate details of the city’s life in them. By the way, the journalist himself often suffered for this. But let’s take it one step at a time.
Early years
James was born in Queens, New York, on October 17, 1928.
During the 1948-1950s, the future writer and journalist studied at the university. However, he later decided to leave the business and not continue his education.
Beginning of the career
Breslin’s career began in the 1940s when he became a copy boy at the Long Island Press.
Later, he took on the position of a columnist. Most of his early columns were devoted to political figures, as well as ordinary citizens he communicated in one or another “drinking” establishment.
In particular, James worked as a columnist for such newspapers as the New York Herald Tribune, the Daily News, the New York Journal American, Newsday, The Daily Beast and the National Police Gazette.
Popular column
James became very popular for his column on the death and burial of John F. Kennedy. In it, he mentioned the man who had the honor of digging the president’s grave.
It is important to note that the column was very much in the style of Breslin, as he liked to draw a parallel between a significant event and a specific “ordinary man.”
New “roles”
Thanks to his public image, Breslin was honored to work as a TV spokesperson for Piels Beer in the 1960s. For this, he had to appear in commercials.
Additionally, in 1969, James ran for the position of president of the New York City Council.
Ties with bandits
It is worth noting that James’s journalistic career allowed him to establish ties with a huge number of mafia and criminal elements in New York. Therefore, all his materials on this topic were wildly popular.
However, in 1970, he was attacked. The reason was an article written by James, dedicated to one of the members of a notorious criminal clan.
The journalist was injured in the form of a serious concussion, broken fingers, a rib and a nose.
Awards
In 1985, James received an important award for his reporting. In 1986, he won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary.
These awards were a real genuine proof of Breslin’s prominence and the success of his materials.
Own program
October 1986 was remembered for the fact that James started creating his own evening television show. Airing twice a week, it was called Jimmy Breslin’s People. In the program, the journalist conversed with poor New Yorkers in their homes. Sometimes, the episodes were also “diluted” with interviews with prisoners.
Disadvantages of the profession
In 1991, while covering the unrest happening in the Crown Heights neighborhood, James was beaten and robbed by some young people.
The incident again proved that Breslin’s articles were popular and covered “acute” topics.
As a result, he had a considerable number of detractors and enemies.
Photo: Wikipedia