even those in news broadcasting, have not heard of Max Jordan demonstrates the type of person he was. A somewhat unassuming man, yet excited by the world and world events around him, Max Jordan was one of broadcast journalism's pioneers.That many people, even those in news broadcasting, have not heard of Max Jordan demonstrates the type of person he was. A somewhat unassuming man, yet excited by the world and world events around him, Max Jordan was one of broadcast journalism's pioneers.
Born in Germany in 1895, this inquisitive man came to America as a young man, soon choosing to become a citizen of his new country. Yet despite his new home, Jordan left for Europe to pursue a higher education. He attended the University of Jura, an important university during the years of the Weimar Republic. Continuing his education, he earned a PhD.
Germany was in the midst of change and Max Jordan found events in post World War Europe fascinating. He turned this curiousity into an avocation by becoming a member of the print journalism club when he signed on with the International News Service, the Hearst Wire Agency. It was as an INS reporter that he watched and reported on the changing face of Europe especially Germany as the carefree twenties turned into depression. Jordan witnessed the fall of the Weimar Republic caused by a lack of faith by the German people and fueled by lack of interest by England and France, and the rise of National Socialism centered in one man, Adolph Hitler.
In August, 1931, Jordan was engaged by the National Broadcasting Company to do some translation of a speech by the German president Hindenburg. After this he continued to act as NBC's primary German translator over the next few years.
Just as Europe was changing, so too was radio news. In 1934, Jordan left his print job with the INS and joined NBC as their European Representative. This made him responsible for providing subjects and persons to talk about European life including news events. His counterpart in England was Fred Bate. Over at the Columbia Broadcasting System Cesar Saerchinger was doing a similar job. Jordan had already established himself among the political elite. With his German background and command of language he soon placed NBC in the enviable postion as preferred American network. CBS's opinion of Hitler did not help. When Saerchinger had secured a 15 minute broadcast with Adolph Hitler, he was told to forget it as CBS did not want to give any forum to Herr Hitler. Goebbels, Hitler's press representative, did not forget this.
When Austrian Chancellor Dolfuss was assassinated, Jordan reported on the spot himself from the funeral rather than have someone else do the talking. He was heard more and more often as the face of Europe changed. In 1937, he scored a coup over CBS getting the scoop on Hitler's entry into Austria (Anschluss). William L. Shirer, Columbia's European Representative, had to fly to England to get on the air as he was not allowed to use the Austrian broadcast facilities. And again, when an agreement had been signed by England, Germany, France and Italy over Czechoslovakia during the Munich Crisis, it was Jordan who was first on the air with the reading of the agreement.
While recording world events on the continent, Jordan had a stronger interest in the religious. By the time America entered the war, he had become NBC's Director of Religious Affairs. And later after the war, his interest in religion had increased even more when he left broadcasting altogether and became a Benedictine priest living in Geneva, Switzerland. He died in Illgua, Switzerland on November 28, 1977 in the role he most loved. Yet despite his retreat to obscurity, Jordan will always be a significant figure in broadcast journalism.