Walter Cronkite

 

1916–2009

It felt only natural to select Cronkite as a part of my dream team for his influence as a journalist throughout our U.S. media history. Although the other members I have selected to help me answer my essential question are all female identifying and I was initially going to use that theme throughout, I felt that the influence Cronkite had in broadcast media during such crucial times in American history was helpful for uncovering crucial traits of journalists covering sensitive and potentially harmful content.

As a well-respected and listened to man, he made a positive impact on American journalism through broadcast news and reporting. According to PBS Reporting on America at War article, with his 18 years broadcasting for CBS, he was deemed “the most trusted man in America.” He was active in the war discussion during tense times with foreign affairs and in the beginning of his career was selected for a program with the Army Air Forces where he was one of eight colleagues who went to Britain to see first-hand from an airplane.[1]

In his career, Cronkite reported on the Watergate Scandal, the Vietnam War, battles in France and Normandy, and numerous other impactful wars and eras in American history. He had the power to positively influence the public opinion, even if he did stray from his objective journalism at times (he tended to throw in his personal thoughts from time to time, namely his thoughts on the Vietnam War. [2, 3]

Within the parameters of my research question, speaking on our societies current war on press, as well as the shaping of investigative and sensitive reporting as we transition from contemporary to modern journalism, Cronkite had the power to shape the perceptions of the public and report the news transparently and objectively, taking risks to keep American citizens informed.

NPR Interview, following his passing: [1]

Walter Cronkite, The ‘Most Trusted Man In America’

 

Although Cronkite didn’t regret his television media presence per say, he held the belief that advancements in media technology played a role in the fading out of newspaper and magazine print in the 20th century- a skill and habit he felt was essential to staying informed as American citizens.2 If he were still alive, I am nearly positive he would be highly disappointed in the state of our society and our governments distrust and lack of faith in news media.

“Like so many of our problems today, it all starts with education. We need to teach [children] how to read a newspaper, how to listen to radio, how to watch television, how to understand a film, so that they become properly skeptical. If a public understands the limitations of television, the limitations of print, deadline pressures, all the rest of the things that go into the making of a newspaper or broadcast, then that public will be far less likely to fall into a demagogue’s trap when the demagogue attacks the press for its unfairness.”    -Walter Cronkite. 3

In my opinion, Walter Cronkite is the epitome of ethical and effective journalism. His global experiences, his positive public presence, his attitude towards reporting the news truthfully and objectively, and his grandfatherly demeanor, all make him the prime dream team candidate. He embodies the positive recurring themes of American journalism well.

 

 

[1] Gross, Terry., and Cronkite, Walter. “Walter Cronkite, The ‘Most Trusted Man In America’.” NPR. July 20, 2009. Accessed August 02, 2018. https://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=106800060.

2 Menand, Louis. “The Legend of Walter Cronkite.” The New Yorker. June 18, 2017. Accessed August 02, 2018.

3 Streitmatter, Rodger. “Mightier Than The Sword” (Colorado: Westview Press, 2016), 197-199

 

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