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Ideas & Media

Journalists, publishers, scholars, teachers and preachers who shaped what Americans knew and believed.

All Journalism & Mass Media Scholars & Public Intellectuals Education Religion & Religious Movements
Role: Any Author 71 Educator 55 Journalist 49 Activist 31 Religious Leader 28 Broadcaster 27 Economist 24 Philosopher 13 Publisher 12 Psychologist 11 Social Scientist 11 Historian 9 Founder 7 Novelist 6 Central Banker 5 Executive 5 Lawyer 5
Order: Most notable By term A–Z Born earliest Born latest Longest lived Shortest lived

7 people

Rupert Murdoch b. 1931Journalism & Mass MediaMedia mogul whose News Corp and Fox Corporation shaped global news and entertainment.Ted Turner 1938–2026Journalism & Mass MediaMedia mogul who donated a billion dollars to the United Nations Foundation and championed environmental causes.Pat Robertson 1930–2023Religion & Religious MovementsFounded the Christian Broadcasting Network and, after a failed 1988 presidential run, the Christian Coalition.Mary Lyon 1797–1849EducationFounder of Mount Holyoke, the first endowed college for American womenSal Khan b. 1976EducationFounder of Khan Academy, whose free online lessons have reached hundreds of millions of learners globally.Wendy Kopp b. 1967EducationFounder of Teach for America, which places college graduates as teachers in underserved schools.Geoffrey Canada b. 1952EducationSocial activist who founded the Harlem Children's Zone, a model for comprehensive community-based education.