Nellie Bly

Nellie Bly was the pen name of American journalist Elizabeth Jane Cochran Seaman (1864–1922), a pioneer of investigative and undercover reporting.

Nellie Bly was the pen name of Elizabeth Jane Cochran Seaman, an American journalist who pioneered undercover investigative reporting and set a world record by traveling around the globe in 72 days.

What it is

Nellie Bly (1864–1922) is best known for her undercover exposé of a New York City mental asylum in 1887, published as *Ten Days in a Madhouse*, and for her record-breaking solo trip around the world in 1889–1890, inspired by Jules Verne's *Around the World in Eighty Days*. She worked for the *New York World* and later became a writer, industrialist, inventor, and war correspondent.

Why it matters

Bly's work is considered a landmark in investigative journalism. Her asylum report spurred public attention and reforms in institutional care, while her global journey made her an international celebrity and influenced later generations of women reporters. She helped establish the tradition of immersive, undercover reporting.

Key details

Born Elizabeth Jane Cochran in Pennsylvania, she adopted the pen name Nellie Bly and began her career in the 1880s. Her undercover asylum reporting involved feigning mental illness to gain admission. She completed her around-the-world trip in 72 days, a widely celebrated feat. Her career also included business ventures and inventive work.