Edward Kennedy (journalist)
Encyclopedia
Edward Kennedy was a journalist best known for being the first to report the German surrender at the end of World War II
to Allied nations, getting the word out before an official announcement from Allied headquarters. This angered Allied commanders, who had imposed a news embargo
until the official surrender announcement; the Associated Press
fired Kennedy after this.
's headquarters in Reims, France. Eisenhower embargoed the news until an official announcement was made. Edward Kennedy, as the AP's Paris bureau chief, had been among a group of reporters hastily assembled aboard a C-47 aircraft, and only told they were to cover the official signing once aloft. Once back in Paris, however, Kennedy made attempts to warn SHAEF personnel of his intent, but none of his fellow reporters
. Despite wartime censorship, he phoned the AP bureau in London and reported the surrender. The story moved on the AP wire at 9:36 a.m. EST, mid-afternoon in France.
The official announcements of the surrender varied from German foreign minister Lutz Graf Schwerin von Krosigk
early May 7, to Winston Churchill
on May 8, and Joseph Stalin
on May 9 (accounting for the Soviet Victory Day
). The formal cessation of hostilities was at 23:01 hours on May 8.
and the Allies had agreed to wait until that took place. Meanwhile, men were still fighting and dying. Opinion on Kennedy's scoop was divided; supporters pointed to the freedom of the press
, but the AP eventually apologized. SHAEF disaccredited Kennedy and he returned to New York. The AP initially kept Kennedy on the payroll, but gave him no work to do, before firing him in November. The following summer, the military acknowledged that the German broadcast, made under Allied orders, was almost two hours before Kennedy's dispatch.
Kennedy's story was accurate, but he had violated the military's embargo. Both the military and other reporters were angry with him. Two days after The New York Times
ran his story as the lead item, The Times wrote an editorial saying Kennedy had committed a "grave disservice to the newspaper profession." According to Time
, the incident gave the press a black eye
and "strengthened the censor's hand".
In 1948, in the August issue of The Atlantic Monthly
, Kennedy published a personal essay about the embargo event entitled "I'd Do It Again."
, and three years later in 1949 he was hired by The Monterey Peninsula Herald
as the associate editor. Kennedy was struck by a car on November 24, 1963, and died five days later at the age of 58.
End of World War II in Europe
The final battles of the European Theatre of World War II as well as the German surrender to the Western Allies and the Soviet Union took place in late April and early May 1945.-Timeline of surrenders and deaths:...
to Allied nations, getting the word out before an official announcement from Allied headquarters. This angered Allied commanders, who had imposed a news embargo
News Embargo
In journalism and public relations, a news embargo or press embargo is a request by a source that the information or news provided by that source not be published until a certain date or certain conditions have been met...
until the official surrender announcement; the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
fired Kennedy after this.
Scoop
The documents for Germany's surrender in World War II were signed on May 7, 1945, at 2:41 a.m. local time at General Dwight D. EisenhowerDwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
's headquarters in Reims, France. Eisenhower embargoed the news until an official announcement was made. Edward Kennedy, as the AP's Paris bureau chief, had been among a group of reporters hastily assembled aboard a C-47 aircraft, and only told they were to cover the official signing once aloft. Once back in Paris, however, Kennedy made attempts to warn SHAEF personnel of his intent, but none of his fellow reporters
Scoop (term)
Scoop is an informal term used in journalism. The word connotes originality, importance, surprise or excitement, secrecy and exclusivity.Stories likely considered to be scoops are important news, likely to interest or concern many people. A scoop is typically a new story, or a new aspect to an...
. Despite wartime censorship, he phoned the AP bureau in London and reported the surrender. The story moved on the AP wire at 9:36 a.m. EST, mid-afternoon in France.
The official announcements of the surrender varied from German foreign minister Lutz Graf Schwerin von Krosigk
Lutz Graf Schwerin von Krosigk
Johann Ludwig Graf Schwerin von Krosigk, born Johann Ludwig von Krosigk and known as Lutz von Krosigk was a German jurist and senior government official, who served during May of 1945 in the historically unique position of Leading Minister of the German Reich, the equivalent of a Chancellorship in...
early May 7, to Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
on May 8, and Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
on May 9 (accounting for the Soviet Victory Day
Victory Day
Victory Day is a common name of many different public holidays in various countries to commemorate victories in important battles or wars in the countries' history.- April 30 in Vietnam :...
). The formal cessation of hostilities was at 23:01 hours on May 8.
Aftermath
Kennedy believed previous embargoes that he had respected were related to military security, but this one was simply political, because the Soviets were insisting on a formal signing ceremony in BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and the Allies had agreed to wait until that took place. Meanwhile, men were still fighting and dying. Opinion on Kennedy's scoop was divided; supporters pointed to the freedom of the press
Freedom of the press
Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the freedom of communication and expression through vehicles including various electronic media and published materials...
, but the AP eventually apologized. SHAEF disaccredited Kennedy and he returned to New York. The AP initially kept Kennedy on the payroll, but gave him no work to do, before firing him in November. The following summer, the military acknowledged that the German broadcast, made under Allied orders, was almost two hours before Kennedy's dispatch.
Kennedy's story was accurate, but he had violated the military's embargo. Both the military and other reporters were angry with him. Two days after The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
ran his story as the lead item, The Times wrote an editorial saying Kennedy had committed a "grave disservice to the newspaper profession." According to Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
, the incident gave the press a black eye
Black eye
A black eye , or or 'shiner', is bruising around the eye commonly due to an injury to the face rather than eye injury. The name is given due to the color of bruising. The so-called black eye is caused by bleeding beneath the skin and around the eye...
and "strengthened the censor's hand".
In 1948, in the August issue of The Atlantic Monthly
The Atlantic Monthly
The Atlantic is an American magazine founded in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1857. It was created as a literary and cultural commentary magazine. It quickly achieved a national reputation, which it held for more than a century. It was important for recognizing and publishing new writers and poets,...
, Kennedy published a personal essay about the embargo event entitled "I'd Do It Again."
Later life
After the war Kennedy became the managing editor of the Santa Barbara News-PressSanta Barbara News-Press
The Santa Barbara News-Press is a broadsheet newspaper based in Santa Barbara, California.-History:The News-Press asserts it is the oldest daily newspaper in Southern California, publishing since 1855...
, and three years later in 1949 he was hired by The Monterey Peninsula Herald
The Monterey County Herald
The Monterey County Herald, sometimes referred to as the Monterey Herald, is the major daily newspaper published in Monterey, California, and serving Monterey County. The paper is owned by MediaNews Group...
as the associate editor. Kennedy was struck by a car on November 24, 1963, and died five days later at the age of 58.