Samuel Boyle (journalist)
Encyclopedia
Samuel J. Boyle IV known as Sam Boyle, served for two decades as Chief of The Associated Press' New York City
bureau. He oversaw AP's coverage of high-profile events, including the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center
.
He was born in Philadelphia to a newspaper family. His father, Samuel Boyle, III, was a newspaper editor. An uncle, Robert Boyle, was an innovative editor for the Pottstown Mercury. His younger brother, Bill Boyle (who died in 2007 from cancer), had a long career including editorships in Philadelphia and at the New York Daily News
for 21 years, where he rose to senior managing editor.
Sam Boyle joined the AP in Newark, New Jersey
in 1971, then transferred to the Philadelphia bureau in 1972. Over the next 7 years he moved from AP's political desk to the national desk at NYC headquarters, and then to deputy business editor. In 1981, Sam Boyle was appointed chief of bureau for West Virginia
, and the following year he was named bureau chief in New York City.
When terrorist-hijacked airplanes destroyed the WTC's twin towers, Boyle managed the NYC bureau through its most tumultuous day ever, coordinating main stories and sidebars from staffers at desks and in the streets, even taking dictation by telephone.
With his wife, Suzanne O'Brien, he was active in animal rescue projects, finding homes for strays and adopting half a dozen dogs, including some older ones.
He died on February 3, 2008, aged 59, after a long battle with lung cancer. Just a few months previously he was forced, due to his illness, to relinquish his role as an adjunct faculty member at Columbia University
's Graduate School of Journalism, where he had taught for nearly two years.
New 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...
bureau. He oversaw AP's coverage of high-profile events, including the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
.
He was born in Philadelphia to a newspaper family. His father, Samuel Boyle, III, was a newspaper editor. An uncle, Robert Boyle, was an innovative editor for the Pottstown Mercury. His younger brother, Bill Boyle (who died in 2007 from cancer), had a long career including editorships in Philadelphia and at the New York Daily News
New York Daily News
The Daily News of New York City is the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 605,677, as of November 1, 2011....
for 21 years, where he rose to senior managing editor.
Sam Boyle joined the AP in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
in 1971, then transferred to the Philadelphia bureau in 1972. Over the next 7 years he moved from AP's political desk to the national desk at NYC headquarters, and then to deputy business editor. In 1981, Sam Boyle was appointed chief of bureau for West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, and the following year he was named bureau chief in New York City.
When terrorist-hijacked airplanes destroyed the WTC's twin towers, Boyle managed the NYC bureau through its most tumultuous day ever, coordinating main stories and sidebars from staffers at desks and in the streets, even taking dictation by telephone.
With his wife, Suzanne O'Brien, he was active in animal rescue projects, finding homes for strays and adopting half a dozen dogs, including some older ones.
He died on February 3, 2008, aged 59, after a long battle with lung cancer. Just a few months previously he was forced, due to his illness, to relinquish his role as an adjunct faculty member at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
's Graduate School of Journalism, where he had taught for nearly two years.