There is more than one woman in history who has been written of in story and song. When it comes to Nellie Bly, this is one woman and story like no other. Born Elizabeth Cochran Seaman in 1864, and known by the pen name, this historic figure was a long time industrialist, inventor, journalist and writer.
One thing that sets Ms. Bly apart from current journalists is that the woman believed in only reporting honest news. When a news story came down the pipe, it had to be true for an article, book or paper to be written. In one case, the writer went undercover as a mental patient to prove patient abuse and neglect. In doing so, Nellie became one of the first investigative reporters in history.
Being one of the first journalist to go undercover to garner a story, Ms. Bly was one of the first investigative journalists on record. By faking a mental illness, Ms. Bly gained access to the inner workings of an asylum. After only a brief examination, the journalist was admitted for an indefinite stay.
After 10 days, the journalist was released. These ten days would be some of the most telling in the history of the writer. For, it is from these first hand accounts of abuse and neglect that the journalist wrote 10 Days In A Madhouse, a book that brought the journalist and writer a great deal of recognition.
As time went on, it seem Nellie was experiencing first hand all the issues others had mentioned. The food was horrid consisting only of stale dried bread, gruesome broth and chewy meat, often unidentifiable as to beef, chicken or something else. The eating areas were filthy with crumbs, dirt, urine and feces. In fact. Ms. Bly thought it amazing the number of patients showing no signs of illness other than mental.
While some patients were made to sit and wait for hours on hard benches for assistance, the most dangerous were tied down by rope. Whereas, eating areas were all contaminated with dirt, urine and feces. In fact, it almost seemed that anyone visiting the location, if not crazy upon admittance, would definitely be insane upon release.
More importantly, following this visit by the well known journalist, a grand jury opened an investigation into the asylum inviting Nellie to assist. Between the grand jury and other findings by the journalist, the asylum became under fire for a number of reports related to patient care and neglect. While it seems the physicians and staff were most likely responsible for some injustices, there were no reports of removal from any position. Although, additional reports provided later by Ms. Bly did result in other changes based on the interest of patient care.
It remains unknown how the journalist proved insane during an exam when completely fine. The asylum later instituted precautionary measures from admitting healthy individuals. While one would like to believe this action was taken to protect patients, the truth is that it was most likely to avoid undercover journalists and others from reporting on patient abuse and neglect in the future.
One thing that sets Ms. Bly apart from current journalists is that the woman believed in only reporting honest news. When a news story came down the pipe, it had to be true for an article, book or paper to be written. In one case, the writer went undercover as a mental patient to prove patient abuse and neglect. In doing so, Nellie became one of the first investigative reporters in history.
Being one of the first journalist to go undercover to garner a story, Ms. Bly was one of the first investigative journalists on record. By faking a mental illness, Ms. Bly gained access to the inner workings of an asylum. After only a brief examination, the journalist was admitted for an indefinite stay.
After 10 days, the journalist was released. These ten days would be some of the most telling in the history of the writer. For, it is from these first hand accounts of abuse and neglect that the journalist wrote 10 Days In A Madhouse, a book that brought the journalist and writer a great deal of recognition.
As time went on, it seem Nellie was experiencing first hand all the issues others had mentioned. The food was horrid consisting only of stale dried bread, gruesome broth and chewy meat, often unidentifiable as to beef, chicken or something else. The eating areas were filthy with crumbs, dirt, urine and feces. In fact. Ms. Bly thought it amazing the number of patients showing no signs of illness other than mental.
While some patients were made to sit and wait for hours on hard benches for assistance, the most dangerous were tied down by rope. Whereas, eating areas were all contaminated with dirt, urine and feces. In fact, it almost seemed that anyone visiting the location, if not crazy upon admittance, would definitely be insane upon release.
More importantly, following this visit by the well known journalist, a grand jury opened an investigation into the asylum inviting Nellie to assist. Between the grand jury and other findings by the journalist, the asylum became under fire for a number of reports related to patient care and neglect. While it seems the physicians and staff were most likely responsible for some injustices, there were no reports of removal from any position. Although, additional reports provided later by Ms. Bly did result in other changes based on the interest of patient care.
It remains unknown how the journalist proved insane during an exam when completely fine. The asylum later instituted precautionary measures from admitting healthy individuals. While one would like to believe this action was taken to protect patients, the truth is that it was most likely to avoid undercover journalists and others from reporting on patient abuse and neglect in the future.
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