Seymour Topping
Encyclopedia
Seymour Topping is a highly accomplished and experienced journalist, editor, writer, and educator.
, he joined the Associated Press
in 1948 as a foreign correspondent in China and Southeast Asia. He joined The New York Times Company
in 1959, and during his 33-year tenure held positions such as chief correspondent in both Moscow and Southeast Asia, foreign editor, managing editor, and director of editorial development.
During his career, Topping covered pivotal historical events all over the world including the Chinese Revolution and the French Indochina War, and he reported from countries and regions including China, Vietnam, Russia, Germany, the United Kingdom, Tibet, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Kuwait, Iran, South Africa, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, Australia, Cuba, Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador.
He has also served in various administrative capacities, including President of the International Advisory Board of the School of Journalism at Tsinghua University
, President of Emeritus Professors In Columbia, President of the American Society of Newspaper Editors
, and Chairman of the ASNE's Committee on International Communication. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
, the Asia Society
, the Century Association
, and the National Committee on United States-China Relations.
as the SanPaolo Professor of International Journalism until 2002 and is now an emeritus professor. He also served as Administrator of the Pulitzer Prizes at Columbia from 1993 to 2002.
Life
Topping was born in New York on December 11, 1921, and was married to photojournalist, documentary filmmaker, and author Audrey Ronning Topping on November 10, 1948. They have five children, four of whom were born abroad while either one or both Toppings were on assignment.Career
Following military service as an infantry officer in the Pacific during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he joined the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
in 1948 as a foreign correspondent in China and Southeast Asia. He joined The New York Times Company
The New York Times Company
The New York Times Company is an American media company best known as the publisher of its namesake, The New York Times. Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Jr. has served as Chairman of the Board since 1997. It is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York City....
in 1959, and during his 33-year tenure held positions such as chief correspondent in both Moscow and Southeast Asia, foreign editor, managing editor, and director of editorial development.
During his career, Topping covered pivotal historical events all over the world including the Chinese Revolution and the French Indochina War, and he reported from countries and regions including China, Vietnam, Russia, Germany, the United Kingdom, Tibet, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Kuwait, Iran, South Africa, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, Australia, Cuba, Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador.
He has also served in various administrative capacities, including President of the International Advisory Board of the School of Journalism at Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University , colloquially known in Chinese as Qinghua, is a university in Beijing, China. The school is one of the nine universities of the C9 League. It was established in 1911 under the name "Tsinghua Xuetang" or "Tsinghua College" and was renamed the "Tsinghua School" one year later...
, President of Emeritus Professors In Columbia, President of the American Society of Newspaper Editors
American Society of Newspaper Editors
The American Society of News Editors is a membership organization for editors, producers or directors in charge of journalistic organizations or departments, deans or faculty at university journalism schools, and leaders and faculty of media-related foundations and training organizations...
, and Chairman of the ASNE's Committee on International Communication. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
, the Asia Society
Asia Society
The Asia Society is a non-profit organization that focuses on educating the world about Asia. It has several centers in the United States and around the world Hong Kong, Manila, Mumbai, Seoul, Shanghai, and Melbourne...
, the Century Association
Century Association
__notoc__The Century Association is a private club in New York City. It evolved out of an earlier organization – the Sketch Club, founded in 1829 by editor and poet William Cullen Bryant and his friends – and was established in 1847 by Bryant and others as a club to promote interest in...
, and the National Committee on United States-China Relations.
Academic work
He taught and lectured at Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
as the SanPaolo Professor of International Journalism until 2002 and is now an emeritus professor. He also served as Administrator of the Pulitzer Prizes at Columbia from 1993 to 2002.