Herbert Muschel, the founder of PR Newswire, died on Nov. 4. Cause of death was not released. He was 85.
Muschel graduated with a journalism degree from New York University then served as a radio operator and purser for the Merchant Marine during World War II. In 1954, Muschel started PR Newswire, a service that gave businesses a way to distribute press releases to the media. Working out of his New York City apartment, Muschel used Western Union teleprinters to send the releases, and personally called editors to share breaking news. His first client? Trans World Airlines.
Muschel sold the company to Western Union in 1971; it’s now owned by United Business Media Plc of London. Today, PR Newswire has offices in 14 countries and sends its releases in 27 different languages.