Osborn Elliott
Encyclopedia
Osborn Elliott was the editor
of Newsweek
magazine for sixteen years between 1961 until 1976. Elliott is credited with transforming Newsweek from a staid publication into a modern rival of Time.
Newsweeks circulation doubled to 3 million issues during Elliott's tenure as editor, which narrowed the gap with Time.
on October 25, 1925. His father, John Elliott, worked as an investment
counselor. His mother, Audrey Osborn Elliott, was a high profile real estate agent in Manhattan
who had been actively involved with the American women's suffrage movement of the early 20th Century.
Elliott attended St. Paul's School
in Concord, New Hampshire
. He attended and graduated from Harvard University
on an accelerated two-year wartime program. He served in the United States Navy
for two years after graduation as a naval officer.
He was first hired by Newsweek in 1955 as a senior editor of business news. He was promoted to managing editor
of Newsweek in 1959.
Elliott was further elevated to editor of Newsweek in 1961 when the magazine was acquired by the Washington Post Company
. He became the editor in chief of Newsweek in 1969. He took on the additional roles of president
, chief executive and chairman within the following three years.
New York City Mayor Abraham Beame
offered Elliott a position with the New York City government in 1976 as the newly created deputy mayor
of economic development
. Elliott left Newsweek to take the deputy mayor position for an annual salary of $1 dollar per year. Elliott's role in New York government was to reverse the loss of jobs which was taking place at the time in New York City. He served as deputy mayor for the remaining 15 months of the Beame administration.
Elliott was named dean of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
in January 1978. He stepped down from that position in 1986, but remained at the school as a journalism
professor.
The Asia Society
, which is headquartered in New York City, has since named an annual journalism prize, the Osborn Elliott Prize for Excellence in Asian Journalism, in his honor.
In 1975, Elliott founded Citizens Committee for New York City along with Senator Jacob Javits.
His 1980 autobiography was titled "The World of Oz."
on September 28, 2008. He was 83 years old. Elliott was survived by several children and stepchildren.
The current editor of Newsweek, Jon Meacham
, called Elliott, "Wise and witty, Oz Elliott is the architect of the modern Newsweek."
The Asia Society released a statement which called Elliott "one of the earliest practitioners of 'civic journalism
' -- the deliberate focusing of the journalistic enterprise on urgent issues of public policy
."
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
of Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
magazine for sixteen years between 1961 until 1976. Elliott is credited with transforming Newsweek from a staid publication into a modern rival of Time.
Newsweeks circulation doubled to 3 million issues during Elliott's tenure as editor, which narrowed the gap with Time.
Early life
Osborn Elliott was born to a prominent family in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on October 25, 1925. His father, John Elliott, worked as an investment
Investment
Investment has different meanings in finance and economics. Finance investment is putting money into something with the expectation of gain, that upon thorough analysis, has a high degree of security for the principal amount, as well as security of return, within an expected period of time...
counselor. His mother, Audrey Osborn Elliott, was a high profile real estate agent in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
who had been actively involved with the American women's suffrage movement of the early 20th Century.
Elliott attended St. Paul's School
St. Paul's School (Concord, New Hampshire)
St. Paul's School is a highly selective college-preparatory, coeducational boarding school in Concord, New Hampshire affiliated with the Episcopal Church. The school is one of only six remaining 100% residential boarding schools in the U.S. The New Hampshire campus currently serves 533 students,...
in Concord, New Hampshire
Concord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
. He attended and graduated from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
on an accelerated two-year wartime program. He served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
for two years after graduation as a naval officer.
Personal life
Elliott married his first wife, Deirdre. The couple had three children but divorced later. He married his second wife, Inger McCabe, in 1973 and became a stepfather to her three children, Alec McCabe, Marit Dubois, and Kari McBride.Career
Elliott began his career in the news magazine publishing industry by joing the Journal of Commerce and then Time magazine.He was first hired by Newsweek in 1955 as a senior editor of business news. He was promoted to managing editor
Managing editor
A managing editor is a senior member of a publication's management team.In the United States, a managing editor oversees and coordinates the publication's editorial activities...
of Newsweek in 1959.
Elliott was further elevated to editor of Newsweek in 1961 when the magazine was acquired by the Washington Post Company
Washington Post Company
The Washington Post Company is an American education and media company, best known for owning the newspaper for which it is named, The Washington Post. The Company also owns Kaplan, Inc., a leading international provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses...
. He became the editor in chief of Newsweek in 1969. He took on the additional roles of president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
, chief executive and chairman within the following three years.
New York City Mayor Abraham Beame
Abraham Beame
Abraham David "Abe" Beame was mayor of New York City from 1974 to 1977. As such, he presided over the city during the fiscal crisis of the mid-1970s, during which the city was almost forced to declare bankruptcy....
offered Elliott a position with the New York City government in 1976 as the newly created deputy mayor
Deputy Mayor
Deputy mayor is an elective or appointive office of the second-ranking official in many local governments. Many elected deputy mayors are members of the city council who are given the title and serve as acting mayor in the mayor's absence...
of economic development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
. Elliott left Newsweek to take the deputy mayor position for an annual salary of $1 dollar per year. Elliott's role in New York government was to reverse the loss of jobs which was taking place at the time in New York City. He served as deputy mayor for the remaining 15 months of the Beame administration.
Elliott was named dean of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
The Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism is one of Columbia's graduate and professional schools. It offers three degree programs: Master of Science in journalism , Master of Arts in journalism and a Ph.D. in communications...
in January 1978. He stepped down from that position in 1986, but remained at the school as a journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
professor.
The Asia Society
Asia Society
The Asia Society is a non-profit organization that focuses on educating the world about Asia. It has several centers in the United States and around the world Hong Kong, Manila, Mumbai, Seoul, Shanghai, and Melbourne...
, which is headquartered in New York City, has since named an annual journalism prize, the Osborn Elliott Prize for Excellence in Asian Journalism, in his honor.
In 1975, Elliott founded Citizens Committee for New York City along with Senator Jacob Javits.
His 1980 autobiography was titled "The World of Oz."
Death
Osborn Elliott died in New York City of of old age while having cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
on September 28, 2008. He was 83 years old. Elliott was survived by several children and stepchildren.
The current editor of Newsweek, Jon Meacham
Jon Meacham
Jon Meacham is executive editor and executive vice president at Random House. A former editor of Newsweek and a Pulitzer Prize winning bestselling author and a commentator on politics, history, and religious faith in America, he is a contributing editor to Time magazine and editor-at-large of WNET...
, called Elliott, "Wise and witty, Oz Elliott is the architect of the modern Newsweek."
The Asia Society released a statement which called Elliott "one of the earliest practitioners of 'civic journalism
Civic Journalism
The civic journalism movement is, according to professor David K. Perry of the University of Alabama, an attempt to abandon the notion that journalists and their audiences are spectators in political and social processes. In its place, the civic journalism movement seeks to treat readers and...
' -- the deliberate focusing of the journalistic enterprise on urgent issues of public policy
Public policy
Public policy as government action is generally the principled guide to action taken by the administrative or executive branches of the state with regard to a class of issues in a manner consistent with law and institutional customs. In general, the foundation is the pertinent national and...
."