Lucius W. Nieman

Lucius William Nieman (December 13, 1857 – October 1, 1935) was an American businessman and founder of The Milwaukee Journal.

Biography Born at Bear Valley in Sauk County, Wisconsin, Lucius's father was Conrad Nieman; and Sara Elizabeth Delamater was his mother. He had an older sister Violette.

Nieman intended to provide a "channel for the expression of views not dictated by 'bossism' or corrupted by 'machine' politics." The paper advocated "regulation of public utilities, conservation of the state’s natural resources, reforestation, development of the state’s water-power resources, and a better highway program."

In 1895 Nieman responded to a plea to help the less fortunate. "It might be a downright good thing to have the women run the Journal for a day", he said. On February 22 men were replaced in the editorial and business offices by female reporters and managers.

Agnes Elizabeth Gunter Wahl became Mrs. Nieman on November 29, 1900. Her father Christian Wahl is known as "the father of Milwaukee’s public park system".

Legacy When Nieman died, his 55% interest in the Milwaukee Journal was valued at $3,850,000. He directed in his will that equal shares of stock sale proceeds go to his widow and to his niece, Faye McBeath, a Journal employee and assistant to Nieman. The Nieman Foundation for Journalism was established after his widow, Agnes Wahl Nieman, left Harvard University $1 million in her will in 1937.

Nieman Fellowships for study at Harvard are awarded to experienced news reporters. James Bryant Conant was President of Harvard when the bequest was made. Mrs. Nieman had stipulated that funds were to be used to raise standards of journalism. The fellowship program for proven reporters was established by Conant after some consultations.

The Niemanlab covers the Nieman Foundation, Nieman Reports, and Nieman Storyboard. Accountability journalism was backed by the Nieman Watchdog. Accountability continues to be pursued in Nieman Reports.

At Marquette University in Milwaukee, the Department of Journalism and Media Studies has named a lead faculty position the Lucius W. Nieman Chair of Journalism.