Peter Kihss

Peter Frederick Kihss (August 25, 1912 – December 28, 1984) was an American reporter for The New York Times and other news organizations for nearly half a century until his retirement in 1982. Kihss was known for his reporting on a wide range of topics, including immigrants, state and city governments, crime, the weather and other subjects.

Early life Peter Frederick Kihss was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Latvian immigrants He was encouraged to become an engineer by his father, but chose to pursue journalism instead, saying "[it] was an opportunity to do good for somebody". He graduated from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 1932.

Career Kihss's career in journalism began in 1933, working at The Associated Press, The Washington Post, New York World-Telegram, New York Herald Tribune, and for 30 years at The New York Times. He quit shortly afterwards and he became a foreign correspondent in South America for The New York Times. Two years after his retirement, a $5,000 journalism award was established in his honor by the Fund for the City of New York, for which he was the first recipient.

Death and legacy Kihss died on December 28, 1984, of a heart attack at his house in Jamaica Estates, Queens, at the age of 72. Then mayor of New York City, Ed Koch, called Kihss "one of the most factual and thoughtful of reporters". He was often referred to as the "world's greatest reporter". Sydney Schanberg for The New York Times referred to Kihss as a "master craftsman", praising his mentoring of younger, inexperienced journalists. Schanberg also called Kihss "one of the greats" of contemporary journalism. He was survived by his wife, Alice, and two children.

Awards and nominations In 1933, Kihss was awarded the Pulitzer Traveling Scholarship. In 1966, Kihss received a special mention by the Society of the Silurians for his work covering the northeast blackout of 1965. In 1971, Kihss was honored by the Society of the Silurians, receiving a gold quill marking his "continued distinguished journalistic work" for more than 25 years. He also received the Silurians' Quarter-Century News Award. In 1974, Kihss received Columbia's Journalism Alumni Award. Kihss was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize four times, but never won.