Bennett, James Gordon (1795-1872), a prominent American journalist, founded the New York Herald in 1835. Bennett revolutionized the newspaper business by hiring reporters to gather news. He also introduced foreign correspondence to journalism, and used the newly invented telegraph. The Herald, sold at first for a penny an issue, was known for sensationalist crime stories and mocking coverage of local figures. Although Bennett’s fiery writing style aroused criticism, the Herald attracted a large readership.
Bennett was born on Sept. 1, 1795, in Banffshire (now Grampian Region), Scotland. He came to America in 1819 and worked as a teacher. However, Bennett was soon attracted to the newspaper business, and he worked as a writer and editor at a number of papers. In May 1835, Bennett began the Herald with $500. At his retirement in 1867, the newspaper had a circulation of more than 90,000 and annual profits of nearly $400,000. He died on June 1, 1872.
