Spotlight: Katharine Graham

Katharine Graham in front of the Washington Post.

Katharine Graham is known for transforming the world of journalism and making the Washington Post one of the most notable newspapers in the world. 

Graham was born in 1917 in New York. She grew up in a wealthy family, as her father (Euguene Meyer) was a millionaire banker. After graduating university, she worked as a reporter for San Francisco News and then joined the editorial staff of the Washington Post because her father had purchased the company. 

In the 1940’s, Graham’s husband became the publisher of the Washington Post and the two bought the company off her father. However, when her husband passed away she took the role as publisher and president of the company.

During her time leading the Washington Post, Graham faced many tough decisions. One being the publishing of the Pentagon Papers which revealed that the U.S. had secretly increased its actions in the Vietnam War with raids and Marine Corps attacks. Another one being the encouragement of the Watergate investigation which reported on the scandal that led to Nixon’s resignation. 

In 1972, she became the CEO of the Washington Post, becoming the first woman to be a CEO of a Fortune’s 500 Company. Under Graham, the Washington Post grew in popularity and increased in over a billion dollars of revenue.

Despite being in a male denominated career, Graham made sure her voice was heard. She was often discriminated against in the workplace for being a woman, but she fought against this sexism and continued to work hard leading the Washington Post. Today, women can be seen working in all kinds of journalistic roles because of her bravery and strength. 

“News is what someone wants suppressed. Everything else is just advertising,” Katharine Graham.