Known for its journalistic inquiries dedicated to social issues, here is the story of Nellie Bly, a revolutionary mind as well as a great female figure in history for having made a journey around the world without men by her side at the end of the 19th century.
Who was Nellie Bly
Nellie Bly, stage name of Elizabeth Jane Cochran (Burrell, May 5, 1864 – New York, January 27, 1922), was an American journalist. It grows in Pennsylvania in a very large family of fifteen children born to a father judge and businessman who dies prematurely. This event marks the life of the family not only emotionally but also economically. The difficulties related to the financial aspect lead Nellie to drop out of studies and instead dedicate yourself to looking for a job.
He then moved to Pittsburgh where he tried to approach the world of teaching. In the meantime, however, a event that will completely change her life. In fact, reading the “Pittsburgh Dispatch” he comes across an article called “What Girls Are Good For” or, “What are girls for”, to which he replies with a letter to the editor of the newspaper. This, extremely amazed by the girl’s gesture, allows her to join the editorial office of the newspaper thus opening her great career.
Nellie Bly and the press inquiries
Among all the possible paths he decides to take that of investigative journalism focusing specifically on the condition of women workers in factories. In reality, her commitment is often hindered by industrialists who do not want to see her impregnated in union and work contexts and therefore she moves to Mexico as foreign correspondent.
It does not abandon the social issues and also in Mexico she encounters problems with the government which leads her to leave the country to return to the United States. The following year he moved to the big apple for work at New York World with Joseph Pulitzer. The reporter hires her and assigns her an investigation on the condition of the women’s ward at New York City Mental Helth Hospital. Nellie then pretends to have psychiatric problems so that she can be interned and be able to witness the conditions of the patients firsthand.
She remained in the structure for only ten days and was then discharged thanks to the intervention of the newspaper with which she then published a article on treatments reserved for women in the asylum. He talks about the structure that proves to be poor and the patient’s hygiene is very poor. Of course, such an article can only cause a stir, but thanks to his work the state has provided more subsidies to improve the state of the hospital.
Nellie Bly and Around the World in 72 Days was nellie bly
This kind of investigative journalism, based on undercover research and secret projects, spreads also thanks to her who inspires many journalists interested in the same issues. His curiosity was also pushed towards large projects such as the world Tour in 80 daysi, the same as told by the French writer Juler Verne. With the help of the editor of the newspaper, on November 14, 1889, he left New Jersey for his great undertaking which lasted 72 days and 40,000 kilometers.
Bly recounted her journey in a diary entitled “Around The World in Seventy-two Days” became a big hit all over the world. One of the most beautiful moments told in his text is the meeting with Jules Verne in the town of Amiens where he lived. Thanks to her courage and her independence, as the journey was carried out without the presence of men, many women then took her as a model of female emancipation.
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