Joseph Medill Patterson

Born in Chicago in 1879 into the Medill newspaper family, he was the grandson of Joseph Medill of the Chicago Tribune. He attended Yale, worked in journalism, and also spent time in public office early in his career before returning fully to publishing.

He first became prominent at the Chicago Tribune, where he worked alongside his cousin Robert R. McCormick. In 1919, he went on to found the New York Daily News, widely recognized as the first successful tabloid newspaper in the United States. Under his leadership, the paper reached an enormous readership and became a major force in American popular journalism.

He also wrote fiction, including A Little Brother of the Rich, drawing on his familiarity with wealth, politics, and power. He died in New York in 1946, leaving behind a lasting mark on both modern newspaper publishing and the style of mass-market journalism.