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{{Short description|American magazine editor (1924–2008)}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2021}}

{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Osborn Elliott
| name = Osborn Elliott
| image = Evergreen Cemetery, Osborn Elliott.jpg
| image = Evergreen Cemetery, Osborn Elliott.jpg
| caption = Evergreen Cemetery, Osborn Elliott
| caption = Evergreen Cemetery, Osborn Elliott
| birthname =
| birth_place = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1924|10|25}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1924|10|25}}
Line 9: Line 11:
| death_place = New York City, New York, U.S.
| death_place = New York City, New York, U.S.
| occupation = Editor, journalist
| occupation = Editor, journalist
| years =
| spouse = Deirdre Spencer (divorced)<br>[[Inger McCabe Elliott|Inger Abrahamsen]] (1973–2008 his death)
| spouse = Deirdre Spencer (divorced)<br>[[Inger McCabe Elliott|Inger Abrahamsen]] (1973–2008 his death)
}}
}}


'''Osborn Elliott''' (October 25, 1924 – September 28, 2008) was the [[editor in chief|editor]] of ''[[Newsweek]]'' magazine for sixteen years between 1961 and 1976.<ref name=lat>{{cite news |first=|last=|title=Osborn Elliott dies at 83; longtime Newsweek editor |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-elliott29-2008sep29,0,2652631.story|work=[[Bloomberg News]]|publisher=''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' |date=2008-09-29 |accessdate=2008-10-26}}</ref> Elliott is credited with transforming ''Newsweek'' from a staid publication into a modern rival of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''.<ref name=lat/>
'''Osborn Elliott''' (October 25, 1924 – September 28, 2008) was the [[editor in chief|editor]] of ''[[Newsweek]]'' magazine for sixteen years between 1961 and 1976.{{r|lat}} Elliott is credited with transforming ''Newsweek'' from a staid publication into a modern rival of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''.{{r|lat}}


''Newsweek'''s circulation doubled to 3 million issues during Elliott's tenure as editor, which narrowed the gap with ''Time''.<ref name=lat/>
''Newsweek'''s circulation doubled to three million issues during Elliott's tenure as editor, which narrowed the gap with ''Time''.{{r|lat}}


== Biography ==
== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
=== Early life ===
Osborn Elliott was born in [[New York City]],<ref name=lat/> the son of Audrey Osborn and John Elliott. His father worked as an [[investment]] counselor.<ref name=lat/> His mother 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.<ref name=lat/>
Osborn Elliott was born in [[New York City]], the son of Audrey Osborn and John Elliott. His father worked as an [[investment]] counselor. His mother 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.{{r|lat}}


Elliott attended [[St. Paul's School (Concord, New Hampshire)|St. Paul's School]] in [[Concord, New Hampshire]].<ref name=lat/> He attended and graduated from [[Harvard University]] on an accelerated two-year wartime program.<ref name=lat/> He served in the [[United States Navy]] for two years after graduation as a [[naval officer]].<ref name=lat/>
Elliott attended [[St. Paul's School (Concord, New Hampshire)|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]].{{r|lat}}


=== Career ===
=== Career ===
Elliott began his career in the news magazine publishing industry by joining ''[[The Journal of Commerce]]'' and then ''Time''.<ref name=lat/>
Elliott began his career in the news magazine publishing industry by joining ''[[The Journal of Commerce]]'' and then ''Time''.{{r|lat}}


He was first hired by ''Newsweek'' in 1955 as a senior editor of [[business news]].<ref name=lat/> He was promoted to [[managing editor]] of ''Newsweek'' in 1959.<ref name=lat/>
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.{{r|lat}}


Elliott was further elevated to editor of ''Newsweek'' in 1961 when the magazine was acquired by the [[Washington Post Company]].<ref name=lat/> He became editor in chief of ''Newsweek'' in 1969.<ref name=lat/> He took on the additional roles of [[president (corporate title)|president]], [[chief executive]] and [[chairman]] within the following three years.<ref name=lat/>
Elliott was further elevated to editor of ''Newsweek'' in 1961 when the [[Washington Post Company]] acquired the magazine. He became editor in chief of ''Newsweek'' in 1969. He took on the additional roles of [[president (corporate title)|president]], [[chief executive]] and [[chairman]] within the following three years.{{r|lat}}


[[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]].<ref name=lat/> Elliott left ''Newsweek'' to take the deputy mayor position for an annual salary of $1 per year.<ref name=lat/> 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.<ref name=lat/> He served as deputy mayor for the remaining 15 months of the Beame administration.<ref name=lat/>
[[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 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.{{r|lat}}


Elliott was named dean of the [[Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism]] in January 1978.<ref name=lat/> He stepped down from that position in 1986, but remained at the school as a [[journalism]] professor.<ref name=lat/> 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.<ref name=lat/> In 1975, Elliott founded Citizens Committee for New York City along with Senator Jacob Javits. His 1980 autobiography was titled "The World of Oz."
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.{{r|lat}} In 1975, Elliott founded Citizens Committee for New York City along with Senator Jacob Javits. His 1980 autobiography was titled "The World of Oz."


=== Personal life ===
=== Personal life ===
Elliott married his first wife, Deirdre Spencer. The couple had three children, Diana Elliott Lidofsky, Cynthia Elliott (Rice), and Dorinda Elliott (Ignatius) and divorced in 1972.<ref name=lat/> He married his second wife, [[Inger McCabe Elliott]],<ref>author of ''Batik: Fabled Cloth of Java'', Hong Kong: Periplus, 2004</ref> in 1973 and became a stepfather to her three children, Alec McCabe, Marit McCabe (Dubois), and Kari McCabe (McBride).<ref name=lat/>
With his first wife, Deirdre Spencer, Elliott had three children: Diana Elliott Lidofsky, Cynthia Elliott (Rice), and Dorinda Elliott (Ignatius). They divorced in 1972. He married his second wife, [[Inger McCabe Elliott]],<ref>author of ''Batik: Fabled Cloth of Java'', Hong Kong: Periplus, 2004</ref> in 1973 and became a stepfather to her three children, Alec McCabe, Marit McCabe (Dubois), and Kari McCabe (McBride).{{r|lat}}


=== Death ===
=== Death ===
Osborn Elliott died in New York City on September 28, 2008. He was 83 years old.<ref name=lat/> Elliott was survived by three daughters and stepchildren.<ref name=lat/> The current editor of ''Newsweek'', [[Jon Meacham]], called Elliott, "Wise and witty, Oz Elliott is the architect of the modern ''Newsweek''."<ref name=lat/> 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]]."<ref name=lat/>
Osborn Elliott died in New York City on September 28, 2008. He was 83 years old. Elliott was survived by three daughters and stepchildren. The 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]]."{{r|lat}}


===Cultural references===
===Cultural references===
Elliott's victimization at the hands of the [[con artist]] [[David Hampton]] provided some of the basis for [[John Guare]]'s drama ''[[Six Degrees of Separation]]''. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/21/theater/the-life-of-fakery-and-delusion-in-john-guare-s-six-degrees.html|title=The Life of Fakery and Delusion In John Guare's 'Six Degrees'|first1=Alex|last1=Witchel|first2=Special to The New York|last2=Times|date=21 June 1990|publisher=|accessdate=8 January 2018|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref>
Elliott's victimization at the hands of the [[con artist]] [[David Hampton]] provided some of the basis for [[John Guare]]'s drama ''[[Six Degrees of Separation (play)|Six Degrees of Separation]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/21/theater/the-life-of-fakery-and-delusion-in-john-guare-s-six-degrees.html|title=The Life of Fakery and Delusion In John Guare's 'Six Degrees'|first1=Alex|last1=Witchel|first2=Special to The New York|last2=Times|newspaper=The New York Times|date=21 June 1990|access-date=8 January 2018}}</ref>

==Works==
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book | last1 = Elliott | first1 = Osborn | author-mask1 = 1 | date = 1980-05-15 | title = The World of Oz: An Inside Report on Big-Time Journalism by the Former Editor of Newsweek | url = https://archive.org/details/worldofoz00elli | url-access = registration | language = en | edition = First | publisher = [[Viking Press|Viking Adult]] | isbn = 978-0670787708 | lccn = 79020649 | oclc = 5353172 | ol = OL4416673M | via = [[Internet Archive]] | quote = | df = dmy-all}}
{{refend}}


== References ==
== References ==
⚫
{{reflist|30em|refs=


<ref name=lat>{{cite news | author = <!--Not stated--> | title = Osborn Elliott dies at 83; longtime Newsweek editor | date = 2008-09-29 | url = http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-elliott29-2008sep29,0,2652631.story | work = [[Los Angeles Times]] | agency = [[Bloomberg News]] | language = en-us | eissn = 2165-1736 | issn = 0458-3035 | lccn = sn81004356 | oclc = 3638237 | access-date = 2008-10-26 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081010025814/http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-elliott29-2008sep29,0,2652631.story | archive-date = 2008-10-10 | df = dmy-all}}</ref>
* Osborn Elliott: ''The World of Oz: An Inside Report on Big-Time Journalism by the Former Editor of Newsweek''. New York: Viking Adult, 1980.

⚫
{{reflist}}
}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
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[[Category:1924 births]]
[[Category:1924 births]]
[[Category:2008 deaths]]
[[Category:2008 deaths]]
[[Category:Military personnel from New York City]]
[[Category:Newsweek people]]
[[Category:Newsweek people]]
[[Category:Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism]]
[[Category:Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism faculty]]
[[Category:Columbia University faculty]]
[[Category:Columbia University faculty]]
[[Category:American magazine editors]]
[[Category:American magazine editors]]
[[Category:Harvard Lampoon alumni]]
[[Category:The Harvard Lampoon alumni]]

Latest revision as of 10:11, 5 February 2024

Osborn Elliott
Evergreen Cemetery, Osborn Elliott
Born(1924-10-25)October 25, 1924
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedSeptember 28, 2008(2008-09-28) (aged 83)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)Editor, journalist
Spouse(s)Deirdre Spencer (divorced)
Inger Abrahamsen (1973–2008 his death)

Osborn Elliott (October 25, 1924 – September 28, 2008) was the editor of Newsweek magazine for sixteen years between 1961 and 1976.[1] Elliott is credited with transforming Newsweek from a staid publication into a modern rival of Time.[1]

Newsweek's circulation doubled to three million issues during Elliott's tenure as editor, which narrowed the gap with Time.[1]

Biography[edit]

Early life[edit]

Osborn Elliott was born in New York City, the son of Audrey Osborn and John Elliott. His father worked as an investment counselor. His mother 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.[1]

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.[1]

Career[edit]

Elliott began his career in the news magazine publishing industry by joining The Journal of Commerce and then Time.[1]

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.[1]

Elliott was further elevated to editor of Newsweek in 1961 when the Washington Post Company acquired the magazine. He became editor in chief of Newsweek in 1969. He took on the additional roles of president, chief executive and chairman within the following three years.[1]

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 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.[1]

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.[1] In 1975, Elliott founded Citizens Committee for New York City along with Senator Jacob Javits. His 1980 autobiography was titled "The World of Oz."

Personal life[edit]

With his first wife, Deirdre Spencer, Elliott had three children: Diana Elliott Lidofsky, Cynthia Elliott (Rice), and Dorinda Elliott (Ignatius). They divorced in 1972. He married his second wife, Inger McCabe Elliott,[2] in 1973 and became a stepfather to her three children, Alec McCabe, Marit McCabe (Dubois), and Kari McCabe (McBride).[1]

Death[edit]

Osborn Elliott died in New York City on September 28, 2008. He was 83 years old. Elliott was survived by three daughters and stepchildren. The 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."[1]

Cultural references[edit]

Elliott's victimization at the hands of the con artist David Hampton provided some of the basis for John Guare's drama Six Degrees of Separation.[3]

Works[edit]

  • — (15 May 1980). The World of Oz: An Inside Report on Big-Time Journalism by the Former Editor of Newsweek (First ed.). Viking Adult. ISBN 978-0670787708. LCCN 79020649. OCLC 5353172. OL 4416673M – via Internet Archive.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Osborn Elliott dies at 83; longtime Newsweek editor". Los Angeles Times. Bloomberg News. 29 September 2008. eISSN 2165-1736. ISSN 0458-3035. LCCN sn81004356. OCLC 3638237. Archived from the original on 10 October 2008. Retrieved 26 October 2008.
  2. ^ author of Batik: Fabled Cloth of Java, Hong Kong: Periplus, 2004
  3. ^ Witchel, Alex; Times, Special to The New York (21 June 1990). "The Life of Fakery and Delusion In John Guare's 'Six Degrees'". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 January 2018.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Osborn_Elliott&oldid=1203674265"