Dying Words: The AIDS Reporting of Jeff Schmalz and How It Transformed The New York Times

"Dying Words hit me like a ton of bricks: it brings back the terror, the trauma and the catharsis of the AIDS years by focusing on just one remarkable man. In this era of mass amnesia about the plague that devastated gay America, this book is not just haunting, it's vital." — Andrew Sullivan

"As a playwright who has written stories about the AIDS epidemic on the stage, I was deeply moved by this account of the life of Jeff Schmalz. His legacy, both personal and professional, is a powerful reminder that we must continue to fight for all those affected by HIV. Samuel Freedman has done a superb job of capturing a time and a life that must never be forgotten." — Terrence McNally

"It is an important part of the story of the fight for LGBT equality in America that will come as a surprise even to many well-informed readers." — Barney Frank

AIDS outed Jeff Schmalz. A rising star at The New York Times, Jeff had carefully kept his identity as a gay man hidden from his superiors to protect his career.

But everything changed on December 21, 1990 when he collapsed in the newsroom and was then diagnosed with full-blown AIDS. Courageously, Jeff chose to report on the disease that was killing him and countless others.

Dying Words is based on original interviews with Anna Quindlen, Arthur Sulzberger, Jr. and Adam Moss, among other leading journalists, and it draws on Jeff's own interviews with such figures as Bill Clinton, Magic Johnson, Mary Fisher, Larry Kramer, and Randy Shilts.

This book-and a companion radio documentary available through PRX-preserve Jeff Schmalz's legacy and confirm his profound effect on American journalism.