Nellie Bly

Trailblazing investigative journalist who revolutionized undercover reporting and exposed institutional abuse

Nellie Bly (1864–1922), born Elizabeth Cochran Seaman, redefined investigative journalism through daring undercover assignments that exposed societal injustices. Her most famous exposé, Ten Days in a Mad-House (1887), involved feigning mental illness to infiltrate New York’s Blackwell’s Island Asylum. Her shocking report led to sweeping reforms in mental healthcare and established undercover journalism as a powerful tool for social change.

Bly also shattered gender barriers in a male-dominated field. At a time when female journalists were relegated to fashion and gardening columns, she insisted on covering hard news. In 1889–1890, she circumnavigated the globe in 72 days—beating Jules Verne’s fictional record—and documented her journey for Joseph Pulitzer’s New York World, proving women could excel in adventure reporting.

Her later work included exposing corruption in government and advocating for labor rights. Bly’s fearless approach inspired generations of journalists, as seen in modern investigative series like The New York Times' Caliphate podcast. The Nellie Bly Memorial in New York honors her enduring impact on media and social justice.

By merging activism with journalism, Bly demonstrated how storytelling could drive tangible policy changes—a legacy that continues to resonate in today’s era of accountability reporting.