Laurel Leff

Laurel Leff is an American journalism historian and professor at Northeastern University, where she serves as Associate Professor of Journalism. She is best known for her groundbreaking research on how The New York Times covered the Holocaust during World War II. Her 2005 book "Buried by The Times: The Holocaust and America's Most Important Newspaper" received widespread acclaim and multiple awards. The work provided a detailed examination of how The New York Times consistently downplayed or buried news about the systematic murder of Jews during the Holocaust, despite having access to the information. Prior to her academic career, Leff worked as a professional journalist at The Wall Street Journal and the Miami Herald. Her research interests focus on journalism history, particularly examining how American media covered Jewish issues and the Holocaust during the 1930s and 1940s. Leff continues to publish on topics related to journalism history and media coverage of minority groups. She has expanded her research to include investigations of American journalism's response to various refugee crises and the role of the press in shaping public opinion during critical historical moments.

Readers consistently praise Leff's meticulous research and documentation in "Buried by The Times," citing her thorough examination of The New York Times' coverage patterns and editorial decisions. Many readers note the book's clear presentation of evidence through specific examples and statistics. What readers liked: - Detailed archival research and primary sources - Clear writing style that makes complex media analysis accessible - Balanced approach to explaining institutional failures without sensationalism - Inclusion of internal Times memos and correspondence What readers disliked: - Some found the writing dry and academic in tone - A few readers wanted more analysis of other newspapers for comparison - Several noted redundancy in examples provided Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.2/5 from 156 ratings Amazon: 4.4/5 from 42 reviews Representative review: "Leff backs every assertion with multiple sources and examples, creating an airtight case about the Times' institutional failures during this critical period. Though sometimes repetitive, the thoroughness serves the gravity of the subject matter." - Amazon reviewer

Buried by The Times: The Holocaust and America's Most Important Newspaper (2005) A detailed historical analysis of The New York Times' coverage of the Holocaust during World War II, documenting how the newspaper consistently minimized and misplaced news about the systematic murder of European Jews despite having access to the information.

Well Worth Saving: American Universities' Life-and-Death Decisions on Refugees from Nazi Europe (2019) An examination of how American universities responded to refugee scholars fleeing Nazi persecution, revealing the complex decision-making processes that determined which Jewish scholars received assistance and which were left behind.

David S. Wyman wrote extensively about America's response to the Holocaust, with his book "The Abandonment of the Jews" examining how US institutions failed to help European Jews. His research methods and focus on institutional responses to the Holocaust parallel Leff's approach to analyzing The New York Times.

Deborah Lipstadt focuses on Holocaust denial and how information about the genocide was communicated in the West. Her work "Beyond Belief: The American Press and the Coming of the Holocaust" investigates media coverage of the Holocaust in ways that complement Leff's research.

Peter Novick explores how Americans have understood and remembered the Holocaust through time. His book "The Holocaust in American Life" examines institutional responses and media representation of the Holocaust, sharing Leff's interest in how American institutions processed Holocaust information.

Lucy Dawidowicz researched how information about the Holocaust reached the West during World War II. Her work investigates the flow of information about the genocide and the responses of Western institutions, similar to Leff's examination of newspaper coverage.

Felicia Kornbluh studies institutional histories and how organizations respond to crisis, particularly regarding marginalized groups. Her research methodology of examining organizational records and institutional decision-making mirrors Leff's approach to analyzing newspaper coverage of critical events.