Katherine Graham

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The entry of Graham in her father’s business at the Washington Post contributed a lot to her career in publishing. In the earlier years, women were not allowed to write newspapers and magazines. Graham, however, overcame this and started work as an editor at the post. The husband, Philip Graham, had taken over the Post at the time of his death. Katharine was, therefore, left with the responsibility of running it. She took over the presidency but still taking care of her children. James Reston and Walter Lippmann were the essential references that Katharine utilized in her leadership position. These two men were influential to her as they gave her the motivation and training to take the post to greater heights (Davis, 1979). She also incorporated critical journalists in the post to act as a reference to her and all the workforce with the aim of improving the quality of the paper. She also chose Benjamin Bradlee to be the managerial editor at the post.

Mrs. Graham was the first ever president of The Washington Post Company. She was so influential that she led the company to greater heights both in the field of journalism and business. She was also a role model to many women during her time and to date. She was also the former chairperson and CEO of the Post Company. She passed on the company to her son in the year 1979 before her diminish in 2001 (Felsenthal, 1993).

Conclusion

The story of Katharine Graham is an inspiration to many. She was a woman who grew up with little affection from the parents in her early years. The father came to approve of her later in life but not the mother. The little knowledge she got from her early social life made her a strong, independent and ambitious woman. It is the social interaction from her adulthood that helped her shape her career and rise to great levels. She was and remains to be an inspiration to many. Many women in the world take her as a role model.

References

Davis, D. (1979). Katharine the Great: Katharine Graham and the Washington Post. New York: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich.

Felsenthal, C. (1993). Power, Privilege, and the Post: The Katharine Graham Story. New York: Putnam's.

Graham, K. (1997). Personal History. New York: A. A. Knopf.