# The whale that made a reporter famous

> In 1970, Paul Linnman covered the explosion of a beached sperm whale in Oregon. Fifty years later, it is still what he is known for.
- Title: The whale that made a reporter famous · The New Yorker
- Summary: In 1970, Paul Linnman covered the explosion of a beached sperm whale in Oregon. Fifty years later, it is still what he is known for.
- Keywords: paul linnman, florence oregon, sperm whale, broadcast journalism, 1970, exploding whale, The New Yorker
- Source: The New Yorker — https://newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-documentary/the-enduring-lesson-of-the-exploding-whale
- Author: The New Yorker
- Published: 2026-11-05T11:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: paul linnman, florence oregon, sperm whale, broadcast journalism, 1970, exploding whale, politics, news
## A whale washes up in Oregon
In November of nineteen seventy, a forty-five-foot sperm whale beached in Florence, Oregon. Nobody could move it, so the State Highway Division decided to blow it up.
## Linnman reports with alliteration
Reporter Paul Linnman covered the blast. He described spectators becoming land-blubber newsmen when the blast blasted blubber beyond all believable bounds.

> The sand dunes there were covered with spectators and landlubber newsmen, shortly to become land-blubber newsmen, when the blast blasted blubber beyond all believable bounds.
## The story defined his career
The report was rebroadcast nationwide and became a point of pride for Florence. Linnman, now seventy-seven, remains forever associated with the exploding whale despite his mixed feelings.

> It matters, and it's good.
## Key takeaway

A 1970 news report by Paul Linnman on a dynamited whale in Florence, Oregon became unexpectedly famous and defined his career despite his reservations.