Date of Birth: January 17, 1934
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
Date of Death: July 9, 2016
Biography
Sydney Schanberg was an acclaimed American journalist renowned for his courageous reporting and profound impact on international journalism. Born in Clinton, Massachusetts, Schanberg’s career spanned several decades, during which he covered some of the most significant events of the 20th century. He is best known for his work as a correspondent for The New York Times during the Cambodian genocide, a period that he detailed in his Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage. Schanberg’s early career began after graduating from Harvard University in 1955. He joined The New York Times in 1959 and quickly made a name for himself with his incisive reporting. His tenure with the newspaper took him to India, Bangladesh, and Cambodia, where he witnessed firsthand the fall of Phnom Penh to the Khmer Rouge. His experiences in Cambodia, alongside his colleague Dith Pran, were later immortalized in the acclaimed film “The Killing Fields.” Throughout his career, Schanberg was a vocal advocate for journalistic integrity and the importance of bearing witness to atrocities. His work not only shed light on global injustices but also inspired future generations of journalists.
5 Interesting Facts about Sydney Schanberg
1. Sydney Schanberg won the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting in 1976 for his coverage of the Cambodian genocide.
2. His friendship and collaboration with Cambodian journalist Dith Pran were central to his reporting during the Khmer Rouge era, an experience dramatized in “The Killing Fields.”
3. Schanberg worked for The New York Times for over 26 years, covering wars and conflicts in South Asia and Southeast Asia.
4. After leaving The New York Times, Schanberg continued his career with Newsday and later as a columnist for The Village Voice.
5. He was a fierce critic of human rights violations and often spoke out against the repression of journalists worldwide.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Sydney Schanberg
1. “Journalism is the first rough draft of history.”
2. “You cannot be a reporter and be afraid. If you are, you should find another line of work.”
3. “It is important for a journalist to seek out the truth and to keep their integrity intact, no matter the personal cost.”
4. “The job of the journalist is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”
5. “Witnessing atrocities and reporting them to the world is a painful but necessary duty.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Sydney Schanberg’s highest net worth is not publicly documented, but his legacy and contributions to journalism are invaluable.
Children
Sydney Schanberg is survived by his two daughters, Jessica and Rebecca Schanberg.
Relevant Links
1. [Sydney Schanberg – The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/topic/person/sydney-schanberg
2. [Sydney Schanberg – Pulitzer Prize](https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/sydney-schanberg
3. [The Killing Fields – IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087553/
5. [Sydney Schanberg – Columbia Journalism Review](https://www.cjr.org/analysis/sydney_schanberg.php
