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James Alonzo "Jim" Bishop (November 21, 1907—July 26, 1987) was an American journalist. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, he dropped out of school after eighth grade. In 1923, he studied typing, shorthand and bookkeeping and in 1929 began work as a copy boy at the New York Daily News . In 1930, he got a job as a cub reporter at New York Daily Mirror , where he worked until 1943, when he joined Collier's Magazine. He remained until 1945. His plans to write for Hollywood producer Mark Hellinger ended with Hellinger's death. Bishop later wrote a Hellinger biography. From 1946 to 1948, he was executive editor of Liberty magazine, then became director of the literary department at the Music Corporation of America until 1951. He was then founding editor of Gold Medal Books (the juvenile division of Fawcett Publications) until 1953. His book The Day Lincoln Was Shot was published in 1955, and became an instant best-seller. Bishop also wrote The Day Christ Died, The Day Christ Was Born, and The Day Kennedy Was Shot. In 1957, he started his column, "Jim Bishop: Reporter" with King Features Syndicate, which continued until 1983. It also landed him on the master list of Nixon political opponents. The remainder of his career was spent writing biographical books about notable figures, and Christian-themed books.
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