Nellie Bly
the Gilded Age reporter who changed the world
I'm always loathe to use the phrase "bad ass women in history" or "women who dared" because it feels too cute. It doesn't even come close to capturing what the phenomenon that was Nellie Bly. She was a "stunt girl reporter" in Gilded Age New York (late 1880s and 1890s), and she found fame and fortune by going under cover and writing about women's lives—in the madhouse, on the stage, in the factory. But that doesn't quite capture the sensation she caused with her groundbreaking journalism or the boundaries she blew through. Nellie Bly was the most famous reporter in America and blazed a path for working women to see themselves represented on the front page of the newspaper—not as dolls or drudges or victims—but as whole humans. She got credit for it, too.
She was born Elizabeth Cochran (she added the "e" later to be fancy). As a child she was known as "Pink" which was her mother's nickname for her. But the world then and now know her best as Nellie Bly.
“Gather up the real smart girls”
Pink got her start when, as a teenager, she wrote an irate letter to her local newspaper, The Pittsburgh Dispatch, in response to a father's lament about what to do with his five daughters. In "The Girl Puzzle" she wrote "gather up the real smart girls, pull them out of the mire, give them a shove up the ladder of life, and be amply repaid by both their success and unforgetfulness of those that held out the helping hand." The editor liked her style, called her in and that's how Nellie Bly got started writing for the newspapers. She worked on ambitious stories detailing the lives of female factories and spent six months reporting from Mexico. But the editors mostly wanted her to write for the ladies pages. Nellie aspired to more.
Newspaper Row, NYC
“I'm off for New York. Look out for me. —Bly”
In 1887, New York City was the place to be for anyone with ambition, especially if their ambition was to work in the powerful newspaper industry. There were few women employed as journalists at the time, but still Nellie went up and down Newspaper Row trying to get hired as a reporter. She was told women are "too emotional to get the news" or "not as accurate as men" or "women don't need the money." Finally, a break big break—Pulizter's The World asked if she would feign insanity, get herself committed to the women's insane asylum at Blackwell's Island and write about it. Nellie replied: "I said I could and I would. And I did."
“i said i could and i would.
and i did.”
Her story about the experience, Ten Days In A Mad-House, launched her from nobody girl reporter to the most famous journalist in New York City. It wasn't just a gripping story—it was one that lead to reforms. It was also the start of a new style of journalism. Nellie pioneered what was known as "stunt girl reporting" but which we might also know as "investigative journalism." She embarked on a series of stunts that exposed everything from dangerous working to conditions corruption in stories like The Girls Who Make Boxes, The King of the Lobby, Nellie Bly Buys a Baby, Nellie Bly on The Stage.
What Nellie really accomplished wasn't just fame or fortune. She launched women from just the ladies pages onto the front page. In a time when most reporting didn't even carry a byline, Nellie often had her name in the headline. In a time when most agreed that a woman's place was in the home, Nellie shined a light on the reality of working women's lives.
A whole slew of "stunt girls" followed in her path, writing for many of the New York papers. Nellie opened doors. A horde of other lady reporters followed her through.
Are you there world? It's me, Nellie.
After three intense, whirlwind years doing stunts for The World Nellie was tired, so she planned her most audacious scheme yet: traveling around the world alone and beating the time in the Jules Verne novel Around the World in 80 Days. The [male] editors said "A woman can't travel alone!" or "A woman requires too much luggage!" and "We ought to send a man!" And Nellie told them to go right ahead. She would race him on behalf of a rival newspaper and beat him back to New York. She packed one bag with fresh underwear, two hats and a jar cold cream. Along the way she stopped in England, France, China and Japan. Along they way she picked up a pet monkey (as one does). Crowds gathered as her train raced across the country from San Francisco to NYC and she returned triumphant.
"Confidence in a woman's ability is all that is wanted."
What next for Nellie Bly? Writing novels, marrying a millionaire, trying her hand at business, and a return to newspaper work where she reported from the frontlines of World War One. She died in New York City on January 27, 1922. Upon her death, her friend and distinguished newspaperman Arthur Brisbane called her "the best reporter in America" and wrote:
"Her life was useful and she takes with her from this earth all that she cared for, an honorable name, the respect and affection of her fellow workers, the memory of good fights well fought and of many good deeds never to be forgotten by those that had no friend but Nellie Bly. Happy be man or woman that can leave as good a record."
Nellie Bly makes The News
I highly recommend this animated documentary made by Reveal and directed by Penny Lane for an overview about Nellie’s life and work.
Recommended Reads
The Mad Girls of New York
The Mad Girls of New York: A Nellie Bly Novel :: Publisher: Berkley :: Pub Date: April 26, 2022
Fearless reporter Nellie Bly will stop at nothing to chase down stories that expose injustices against women—even if it comes at the risk of her own life and freedom—in this exciting novel inspired by the true story of one remarkable woman.
In 1887 New York City, Nellie Bly has ambitions beyond writing for the ladies pages, but all the editors on Newspaper Row think women are too emotional, respectable and delicate to do the job. But then the New York World challenges her to an assignment she'd be mad to accept and mad to refuse: go undercover as a patient at Blackwell's Island Insane Asylum for Women.
For months, rumors have been swirling about deplorable conditions at Blackwell’s, but no reporter can get in—that is, until Nellie feigns insanity, gets committed and attempts to survive ten days in the madhouse. Inside, she discovers horrors beyond comprehension. It's an investigation that could make her career—if she can get out to tell it before two rival reporters scoop her story.
From USA Today bestselling author Maya Rodale comes a rollicking historical adventure series about the outrageous intrigues and bold flirtations of the most famous female reporter—and a groundbreaking rebel—of New York City’s Gilded Age.