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William L. Laurence

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American journalist (1888-1977)

United StatesJournalistsLived 1888 to 1977 · aged 89
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William Leonard Laurence was a Jewish American science journalist best known for his work at The New York Times. Born in the Russian Empire, he won two Pulitzer Prizes. As the official historian of the Manhattan Project, he was the only journalist to witness the Trinity test and the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.

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Photos 2

Awards 3

1958James T. Grady-James H. Stack Award for Interpreting Chemistry
1949George Polk Award
1946Pulitzer Prize for Reporting

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About this person

William Leonard Laurence was a Jewish American science journalist best known for his work at The New York Times. Born in the Russian Empire, he won two Pulitzer Prizes. As the official historian of the Manhattan Project, he was the only journalist to witness the Trinity test and the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. He is credited with coining the iconic term "Atomic Age," which became popular in the 1950s. Infamously, he dismissed the destructive effects of radiation sickness as Japanese propaganda in The New York Times. Even though he had seen the effects first-hand, he moonlighted for the War Department's press office, and United States military officials instructed him to do so in order to discredit earlier reports by independent journalist Wilfred Burchett, the first Western reporter on-site after the bombings.

Country
United States
Category
Journalists
Type
Journalist
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1888 to 1977 · aged 89
Written about in
11 languages

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