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Walter Duranty

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Walter Duranty (1884-1957) was a correspondent for the New York Times. During the 1930's, he was their main correspondent in the Soviet Union. He died in the United States in 1957.

Stalinism

Duranty is known for being a Stalinist sympathizer, Soviet propagandist, and blatant liar. Duranty's reports stated that the Soviets were ruling in the best interest of the people. He refered to Stalin as "the greatest living statesman". He claimed that his time spent in the USSR represented "a heroic chapter in the life of humanity"[1]. Stalin himself told Duranty "You have done a good job in your reporting of the USSR"[2] Even though Duranty was criticized initially, it was not until 1980 that the Times publicly acknowledged his failure[3]. Many other Ukrainian and human rights organizations have protested his obvious bias.

Holodomor

Duranty is best known for his stringent denial of the genocide of the Ukrainian people, known as Holodomor. Duranty refused to report on the man-made famine that killed over twelve million people.[4] Duranty also claimed other journalists who reported the truth of the USSR, such as Malcolm Muggeridge and Gareth Jones, were liars[5]. Some of Duranty's most well known lies and falsehoods about Holodomor are:

  • "There is no famine or actual starvation nor is there likely to be."
    • --New York Times, Nov. 15, 1931, page 1
  • "Any report of a famine in Russia is today an exaggeration or malignant propaganda."
    • --New York Times, August 23, 1933
  • "Enemies and foreign critics can say what they please. Weaklings and despondents at home may groan under the burden, but the youth and strength of the Russian people is essentially at one with the Kremlin's program, believes it worthwhile and supports it, however hard be the sledding."
    • --New York Times, December 9, 1932, page 6
  • "You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs."
    • --New York Times, May 14, 1933, page 18
  • "There is no actual starvation or deaths from starvation but there is widespread mortality from diseases due to malnutrition."
    • --New York Times, March 31, 1933, page 13[6]

Duranty also admitted privately that the genocide was happening.[7]

Pulitzer Prize

There is currently an ongoing debated over whether or not the Pulitzer Prize which Duranty won in 1931 should be taken away. Most people believe that journalism's highest prize should not go to someone who knowingly lied about genocide.[8]


References

  1. ↑ http://www.nationalreview.com/contributors/stuttaford051501.shtml
  2. ↑ Walter Duranty, "I write as I Please". Simon and Schuster 1935.
  3. ↑ http://www.nytco.com/company-awards-pulitzer-note.html
  4. ↑ http://www.timeswatch.org/articles/2003/0310.asp#2
  5. ↑ http://www.ucca.org/famine/
  6. ↑ http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/002/791vwuaz.asp?ZoomFont=YES
  7. ↑ http://www.nationalreview.com/contributors/stuttaford051501.shtml
  8. ↑ http://www.ucca.org/famine/