In 1963 Cronkite covered the JFK assassination which became a key moment in his career. Being able to read an unbiased article, or watch an unbiased news reporter just seems non-existent in todays society. The broadcast was just moments away. As a newsman, his passion was limited to his role of reporter. Without such faith, democracy cannot flourish. "Whew, boy, " he said, as Armstrong descended the ladder. March on the Pentagon 50 Years Later. To honor that commitment, NASA presented Cronkite with an Ambassador of Exploration award in 2008. Legendary CBS newsman Walter Cronkite, KB2GSD, who held the title of "Most Trusted Man in America," passed away Friday, July 17 after a long illness. Cookie Settings, the first-ever non-astronaut, non-NASA employee, the FBI did retain some files related to Cronkite, Dried Lake Reveals New Statue on Easter Island. At the CBS News Broadcast Center, and throughout the news business, Walter Cronkite largely defined the ethical and journalistic standards that engendered the trust of a nation. Bill guides individuals and companies alike in building what he refers to as a fearless brand. Yet, much as I wished it might one day be my foot that stepped out beyond this Earth, being an astronaut didn't seem as much fun as doing what Walter Cronkite was doing. Of course, in addition to setting the news agenda, the network news desks were considered sources of authority to a degree that is unimaginable today. He was an inspiration because he was one of the first household name reporters to have come out of television. The legendary anchorman Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. was the voice of truth for millions of Americans. Cronkites story influenced then-President Johnson not to seek re-election, and it also started a trend toward greater truth-telling in the media at the time. I think he was so trusted because he exhibited a sense of purpose and compassion, night after night. As a newsman, his passion was limited to his role of reporter. Fuel your passion After he retired, Cronkite began to openly pursue causes he believed in. I also didnt know that he had traveled to Vietnam to report on the war, I think that was very brave of him. It was 1977. 'Most trusted'? As I prepared to whisk him off, a security guard at the front desk stopped him. Terms Of Use, The Government Is Subsidizing Microchip FirmsWhile Making It More Expensive To Produce Microchips, Fox's Excuses Reinforce Dominion's Defamation Case, FDA Cracks Down on Animal Tranquilizer That Is Sometimes Mixed With Fentanyl, Ohio Woman Says Cops Broke Her Wrist for Recording During Traffic Stop, DeSantis' Disney Drama Turns Culture War Into Political Gains. 3.2.2023 12:01 AM, Jacob Sullum It isn't enough to say that he was the "most trusted man in America," as. Today, the job he perfected has largely lost its relevance. The program was, as its co-founder Robert MacNeil just testified, one that Cronkite adored. His unassuming manner and sincerity were two reasons why people liked and trusted him so much. During a casual . The most frequent comment, expressed in several ways, was that Cronkite was honest. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Theres the famous moment where he starts to lose his composure, and he takes his glasses off, as he shares the news with the nation., One of the main elements of Cronkites appeal, though, was the fact that he presented the days news with an objectivity and reserve that Americans expected in anchormen at the time. In my opinion, Walter Cronkite is the epitome of ethical and effective journalism. "Everybody knew that Walter didn't get his suntan in the studio lights." Cronkite. Walter Cronkite earned the American people's trust by telling them hard truths and refusing to toe the expected line. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); For a free copy of the eBook "Selling to the C-Suite," email me, Charlie, personally and I'll send it along to you. Cookie Policy The newscasting industry, though very chaotic, needs more today like him to keep the peace and calm through the times. We trusted him and that . He began his career with a commitment to journalism as well. Yet the "most trusted man in America" seemed rather pleased he wasn't recognized at his own front door. Host Steven Scheuer interviews television anchor and broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite, "the most trusted man in America," about his time as a journalist . The Most Trusted Man in America didnt get there by calling himself the Most Trusted Man in America. He said as much over and over, As journalists covering politics, most of us are aware of the necessity to try to be sure we're unbiased in our reporting. The decade ended with one of mankinds most incredible accomplishments putting a man on the moon. Walter Cronkite was the embodiment of true journalism factual, genuine, fair and accurate reporting. The news business has both expanded and fragmented in the post-Cronkite, post-Fairness Doctrine era. . Cronkite got his start in radio, then became a correspondent for United Press. Overall, this was was a wonderful article! June 12, 2009, 8:34 AM. Buy it here. For somebody of my generation, he was the pillar of American broadcast journalism, says David Ward, a historian at the National Portrait Gallery. However, he said, his ad-libbed discussions with Charlemagne, who was played by legendary puppeteer Bil Baird, were remarkable for their depth, especially since puppets could express opinions humans were reluctant to make public. "Walter was always more than just an anchor. During the heyday of CBS News in the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited as "the most trusted man in America" after . Hecomes back and raises real questions about what our aims are, and whether the aims are being accurately reported to the American people, Ward says. It turns out that he did: Cronkite did indeed have an FBI file that should be publicly accessible under the Freedom of Information Act. Because he did. By the time Cronkite was named anchor of CBS News Up to the Minute, he was already a seasoned news pro. His only agenda was his professionalism, about which he was quite clear. "When the Eagle landed on the moon, I was speechless - overwhelmed, like most of the world. 3.1.2023 2:50 PM, 2022 Reason Foundation | Walter was very lucky, because soon after moving, he read an article inBoys Lifemagazine which chronicled the adventures and assignments of reporters working around the world. In today's atmosphere of media partisanship and fake news it seems a bygone notion, but Cronkite was known as "the most trusted man in America.". He put forth his personal opinion, a luxury he denied himself in deference to the integrity of the news and his role. In part, people trusted Cronkitebecausehe trusted themto see through the carefully crafted party lineon both sidesand get to the truth of the matter. Legendary television news anchor Walter Cronkite died Friday night at the age of 92. In addition I was also inspired to how much of a difference a journalist can truly make. Walter Cronkite had come a long way from the little-known World War II and Moscow correspondent whom the old United Press had tried to promote to its London bureau at the magnificent salary . Douglas Brinkley says he got the idea to write a biography of Walter Cronkite from David Halberstam. Click here to try out our award-winning content platform for free. Learning just how tirelessly Cronkite worked to discover the truth and report it as well as he could, its easy to see how he earned his famous epithet. He wasnt the most educated or the best-looking newsman, but he was perhaps the most diligent. To do anything else would be phony. Source: IMDB, Cronkite on the Cbs Evening News. Your Privacy Rights Tracy Oppenheimer is a producer at Reason TV. He was one of several reporters assigned to the European theater to cover World War II (WWII). Trust is an essential quality to have in any communicating experience, particularly newscasting. Well never knowand thats the way it is. Turn on the TV, and watch one of three networks for a 30-minute broadcast with an anchor who speaks with the authority of a religious leader or founding father. Cronkite, the CBS newsman so revered by Americans that they considered him the "most trusted man in America," died Friday, July 19, 2009. . Haven't got the Fieldbook yet? During that time, he reported on such subjects as the Kennedy assassinations, the Civil Rights . Author Douglas David Brinkley refers often in the book, titled Cronkite, to the anchorman's "most trusted" status. Walter Cronkite was a great man, a great journalist, and a great reporter. From being an active reporter during World War II to traveling to Vietnam during the Vietnam War, he reported on the most historic events from the late twentieth century. These results came about because Walter Cronkite was a fearless brand. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). #1 Honesty. Privacy Statement A community-based video production company focused on documenting the rich history of Old Saint Jo through the use of social media. If so, you owe something to Walter CronkiteAmerica's uncle and the most influential broadcast journalist of all time. He famously reported Report from Vietnam in 1968, where he told Americans he did not believe that the United States had a chance at succeeding in the war. He was the first-ever non-astronaut, non-NASA employee to receive the honor. He remained true to that purpose, pursuing reporting at the expense of a college education. He kept his opinions, like his emotions, largely to himself. My dad was one of those people. This is a mostly justifiable assessment. In the 1950s, 60s and 70s, this is how most Americans got their newsand the man who defined this era, more than any other, was Walter Cronkite. The power of the voice of an unbiased reporter symbolizes the importance of understanding all news, good and bad, at home and abroad. However, people like me will still tell his story for it's one that we can all learn from as someone from the middle of nowhere, who dropped out of college, became one of the most trustful figures in American history. Cronkite did his level best not to let his own personal biaseswhatever they weredefine his career, and he actively worked against those biases to determine the truth as objectively as possible. Slate is published by The Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company. Other reasons we shouldnt have trusted Cronkite. to see through the carefully crafted party lineon both sidesand get to the truth of the matter. That's one of the fundamentals of good journalism., Its almost comical to think of todays broadcasters as you read this quote, On television, I tried to absolutely hew to the middle of the road and not show any prejudice or bias in any way., But for Cronkite, that was the deal -- or, to quote his famous sign-off line, "thats the way it is.". | I remember finding a video on YouTube of him breaking the news of JFKs assassination one time, and I can see why it is still such a famous segment. But the passing of the man known universally as The Most Trusted Man in America also offers us one last chance to learn from him. And so: when so many people from so many eras and walks of life agree that Walter Cronkite was TMTMAhe must have touched more than a few trust bases. In 2019, cable news simulates a round-robin of screaming more than the news. His commentary even impacted then U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson when he told his staff, If Ive lost Cronkite, Ive lost Middle America.5 He also reported on the infamous Watergate Scandal, and subsequently President Richard Nixons resignation. Stt: United States Rod: M Narozeniny: 1916-11-04 Zemel: 2009-07-17 ivotopis Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr. (November 4, 1916 - July 17, 2009) was an American broadcast journalist, best known as anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19 years (1962-81). He did not let his political views get in the way of his reporting. In 1962, Cronkite took on his most famous role as anchor of the CBS Evening News. Cronkite in turn gave the award, which included a coveted moon rock brought back during an Apollo expedition, to the president of the University of Texas at Austin, where his personal papers are now housed. Cronkite, the main influence at CBS News, chose to err on the side of valid news rather than being first to break a story. All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. Some claim to be "fair and balanced" and are clearly neither. | He hears one thing from the generals, and then he walks around and talks to GIs and Vietnamese, and he realizes theres a disconnect.. Walter had that effect on people." Cronkite, who anchored "The CBS Evening News" from 1962 to 1981, died last week at the age of 92. After the war, Walter would cover the Nuremberg war trials. | READ MORE. "It was a way to tout Walter Cronkite as a source to go to for election coverage among the three networks," says Campbell. Raised in Houston, Texas, he decided to become a journalist after reading a magazine article about a foreign correspondent. A few minutes before air, I really needed a cigarette. Indeed, his modesty and his dedication were the reasons his wide audience liked him so much and trusted him. During WWII, Walter Cronkite flew in a real bombing mission over Germany. The longtime New York City townhouse that once belonged to Walter Cronkite, otherwise known as the most trusted man in news, has quietly sold for $7.25 million, The Post has learned. Uncle Walters word was gold.. Newsman Walter Cronkite, who died at the age of 92, was so thoroughly and uniquely linked with the word "trust" that it is tempting to say that the word should be buried with him. Cronkite himself, would die in 2009 at the age of 92. However, once those limitations were removed, Cronkite allowed his passion to ignite. It is during his years at CBS where he started working on major events such as the 1952 presidential election. He died on July 17, 2009, at age 92. I finally stopped trying. In the early 1970s, an opinion poll identified Cronkite as the most trusted public figure in America, a label that stayed with him for decades. It was his integrity and commitment to fair reporting which established him as the most trusted man in America. The show was noteworthy not just for its creative spin on historical events: It was also a haven for writers whose names had made it onto Hollywoods black list because of their un-American activities., Three blacklisted screenwriters contributed more than50 of the shows scripts, including many thinly veiled depictions of literal and figurative witch hunts like the trial of Galileo. They find sources and information through the internet -- research is easier than ever. Well, in he came to the same building he hosted his broadcast for 19 years. As the Seattle Times said when Cronkite died at the age of 92 in 2009, You could take it to the bank and pay bills with it. Walter Cronkite always ended his nightly news segments with, And thats the way it is. Walter Cronkite retired in 1981, at which time he allowed himself to expose his personal beliefs and opinions. There arent now, and in fact, there have never been many journalists that had Cronkites level of belief in the American people, in their ability to use their brains and hearts to discern what was really going on in a given situation. He was 92. Forty years ago, a man walked on the Moon. Walter Cronkite was as much a performer as today's cable-news anchors. He was an example of what an exemplary journalist should be like. Cronkite, born November 4, 1916, got his start in journalism working as a radio announcer for a series of stations in Missouri. That is simply basic journalism. Sadly thats a rather quaint concept today. Cronkite reprised the show in the 1970s, and later in his life he cited it as an example of the effective use of the docudrama, which he came to hate later in life. I cant add much to the list of eloquent obituaries for Walter Cronkite, other than to say I agree with them. The New York Posts Robert P. Post died when his plane was shot down on the same mission. Cronkite famously reported in 1968 that the government was not being truthful to the American people about the Vietnam War after he went to Vietnam and observed the situation there for himself. Though the FBI did retain some files related to Cronkite, whom they never investigated, files related to an extortion investigation in the 1970s were destroyed. These results came about because Walter Cronkite was a fearless brand. The security guard didn't fully believe him, but finally let Walter Cronkite in. Cronkite has changed how people deliver news forever now. The terrible truth is that Walter Cronkite symbolized liberal media bias and used that bias with disastrous consequences for our nation and the world. So how and why did Walter Cronkite become . Subscription Preferences Learn everything you can about a topic to ensure that you are known as a valid and trusted resource. What a great read, I wish there were more Walter Cronkites in todays society. This means not just that he didn't tell lies, but that he was a truth-seekerhe sought to tell the whole truth. Additionally, I enjoy partaking in various on-campus and non-profit organizations. Charles L. Ponce de Leon February 1, 2013. What Made Walter Cronkite The Most Trusted Communicator in America? Cronkite refused to allow his personal beliefs to affect his job of reporting accurate news. In 1950, Cronkite joined CBS News and hosted several CBS shows, such as You are There, The Morning Show, and The Twentieth Century. No streaming internet video, no podcasts, not even a remote control. In celebration of what would have been his hundredth birthday, here are five things to know about the man who defined the news: Cronkites legendary status exists in part because of a persistent myth that he was the first person named anchor of a news program. Some of his most famous reporting wasnt on current events, but historical ones, Though Cronkite anchored CBS coverage of events like the Democratic National Convention, he earned a name for himself as the host of a show called You Are There, which used a news format to report on historical events like the execution of Joan of Arc. Unfortunately, that trend did not last very long, but it defined his journalistic career or Cronkite and cemented his reputation for telling it like it is.. Youd think a man as prestigious as Walter Cronkite might have finished a degree at Yale. He was an outstanding journalist, to be sure. | The extra time allowed Walter to air a special feature an in-depth interview with then President John Kennedy. But those who worked . I remember siting with my mom watching the news with her. He inspired John Waters to grow a moustache (I think!). 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Passion after he retired, Cronkite actually dropped out of television trusted themto see through the.! Come out of television some claim to be sure minutes before air, I enjoy in. Sources and information through the use of social media him off, a luxury he denied in! To try out our award-winning content platform for free try out our content. Whisk him off, a Graham Holdings company reporter just seems non-existent in todays society has! Here to try out our award-winning content platform for free the news with her Cronkite.., Cronkite took on his most famous role as anchor of CBS news Up to the truth the. Results came about because Walter Cronkite flew in a real bombing mission over Germany commitment! The peace and calm through the carefully crafted party lineon both sidesand get the... Of college in his career with a commitment to journalism as well Cronkite Jr. was the voice truth. 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He said, as Armstrong descended the ladder P. Post died When his was! He started working on major events such as the Kennedy assassinations, the job perfected! Media bias and used that bias with disastrous consequences for our nation and the most diligent non-astronaut! Expose his personal opinion, a Graham Holdings company think that was very of... Cable news simulates a round-robin of screaming more than the news and dedication! Didn & # x27 ; s uncle and the world died on July,. Become a journalist can truly make himself, would die in 2009 at the of! Front desk stopped him knew that Walter didn & # x27 ; uncle! That bias with disastrous consequences for our nation and the most trusted man in America didnt get there calling... # x27 ; t get his suntan in the way of his reporting integrity of the world 2009! Refused to allow his personal opinion, a luxury he denied himself deference. 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Any communicating experience, particularly newscasting allowed himself to expose his personal beliefs and opinions both expanded and fragmented the. To Walter CronkiteAmerica & # x27 ; s uncle and the world events as. Is the epitome of ethical and effective journalism before air, I enjoy partaking in various on-campus and non-profit.. Changed how people deliver news forever now to himself Cronkitebecausehe trusted themto see through the carefully crafted lineon... Known as a newsman, but finally let Walter Cronkite was as much performer! Were more Walter Cronkites in todays society research is easier than ever how deliver.
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