Columnist and commentator Winchell is considered one of the architects of modern journalism famous for his sensational disclosures for which he became a byword. Two thirds of American radio listeners and weekly readers (estimated at more then 35 million people) followed his often harsh commentaries about American political and Social life. Winchell was one of the first to warn about the rise of the Nazis in Germany. Winchell did not win a Pulitzer prize for any of his work. Winchell set up the Damon Runyon Cancer Fund in memory of his writer-friend and raised millions of dollars for cancer research and care.