Thank you for this article, many of us likely know the name Walter Cronkite but Id be lying if Id said I knew the full breadth of his career and his contributions to American journalism. He was 92. Cookie Policy In the generation since he left the anchor desk at the CBS Evening News, there have been other public figures who inspire passion, devotion, confidence, intensity and . What wont diminish are the lessons which can be learned from Cronkite about building a brand and achieving success. Walter Cronkite Writes For His School Newspapers By the time Cronkite was named anchor of CBS News Up to the Minute, he was already a seasoned news pro. "You see, this is when I was anchoring the broadcast. Originally Answered: Why do people believe Walter Cronkite reported in a neutral matter? 1 Colonization and Settlement (1500-1763), 2 Revolution and Early Republic (1754-1801), 4 Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877), 5 Emergence of Modern America (1877-1929), 4 Late Middle Ages-Renaissance-Reformation Europe (1300-1648), 3 Post-Classical History (600 CE-1492 CE), HS 1302 United States History since 1877, SP 3392 Language Variation and Dialectology of Spanish, https://www.biography.com/media-figure/walter-cronkite, https://www.notablebiographies.com/Co-Da/Cronkite-Walter.html, Jeff Cunningham, Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr.,, Joseph Epstein, A Face Only a Nation Could Love,, College of Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences. As we mourn "the most trusted man in America" we also mourn the kind of television news that no longer exists. Legendary broadcaster Walter Cronkite, who died five years ago this week at age 92, was often cited as "the most trusted man in America," based on a 1972 poll. 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. July 17, 2009 -- Walter Leland Cronkite, a legendary reporter and anchorman who was once voted the "most trusted man in America," died today at age 92. June 12, 2009, 8:34 AM. Additionally, I enjoy partaking in various on-campus and non-profit organizations. So What? Journalism is such a key aspect of everyday life that is can often be overlooked but can have a huge impact on politics. Walter Cronkites legacy continues. The legendary anchorman Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. was the voice of truth for millions of Americans. Track my errors: This hand-built RSS feed will ring every time Slate runs a Press Box correction. Because other news sources were so scarce, Cronkite and the network broadcasts played a huge role in determining what the public considered newsworthy at the time. That may have been god-given; the rest of him was a man who strove to be good, and who showed the rest of us how. Your Privacy Rights Trust is a shoddy yardstick. Mrs. Cronkite looked at me and giggled or blushed or maybe neither. 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 . And every article, blog or TV clip mentions how Walter Cronkite was so trusted. Be skeptical, news consumers, especially of the journalists you trust most. In 1981, CBSs mandatory retirement age of 65 required that Cronkite step down from his post. It will make you smarter and keep them honest. A community-based video production company focused on documenting the rich history of Old Saint Jo through the use of social media. If only half of the American people believed him, he never would have been called "the most trusted man in America." On the CBS Evening News, it was Eric Sevareid, not Cronkite, who did commentary. He never allowed his broader passion to diminish and die. With relentless lobbying, I ended up with a treasure: the NASA press kit Cronkite reportedly used while covering the Apollo 9 and 10 flights. For almost two decades, after all, weve been meeting like this in the evenings, and Ill miss that., Joseph Stromberg The best show recs delivered to your inbox. "I'm very sorry, Mr. Cronkite, " I said as I turned to the clueless guard. Its not just the naive and undereducated who end up trusting people and institutions that they shouldnt. That is simply basic journalism. Sadly thats a rather quaint concept today. The Most Trusted Man in America didnt get there by calling himself the Most Trusted Man in America. In todays multifaceted news environment, with hundreds of channels available on cable and thousands more potential news sources online, its difficult to imagine a single figure having as much impact on the public consciousness as Cronkite did. . So how and why did Walter Cronkite become the most trusted man in America? Just the name Walter Cronkite conveys a significance backed by well-vetted facts. He's being remembered as the "father of television news," as . 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. 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. Shot by Jim Epstein and Tracy Oppenheimer, and edited by Oppenheimer. Douglas Brinkley says he got the idea to write a biography of Walter Cronkite from David Halberstam. But when he joined the United Press and left the country to cover World War II, he made his mark as a journalist capable of reporting stories in difficult conditions. | If you live honestly with integrity with the historical version and then dramatize it, he said in an interview with the Archive of American Television, you are not committing any sin at all., One of his anchor jobs included interviewing a puppet named Charlemagne. Thirteen years after my first attempt to work at CBS, I finally landed a job at the news network I was certain I'd work for. Cronkite was the face of CBS from 1962 to 1981. 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. Destructive 'Super Pigs' From Canada Threaten the Northern U.S. Did an Ancient Magnetic Field Reversal Cause Chaos for Life on Earth 42,000 Years Ago? Privacy Statement We trusted him and that . The Web, which can make the cable news channels look positively Cronkitian, has only reshattered the shards. What Made Walter Cronkite The Most Trusted Communicator in America? In 2005, Cronkite suffered a great loss when his wife Betsy died of cancer. Overall, this was was a wonderful article! He wasnt the most educated or the best-looking newsman, but he was perhaps the most diligent. The difference, writes Lee Siegel, is this era of Olbermann and O'Reilly taught audiences . The broadcast was just moments away. It was very enjoyable reading about him. New eBook from Charles H. Green, loaded with insights and action steps on how to get back in the selling water, without fear. They find sources and information through the internet -- research is easier than ever. Slate is published by The Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company. Walter Cronkite was the face and the voice of CBS News as an anchor for more than 30 years, and his reporting earned him the label of the most trusted man in America. He reported on what became some of the most historic news stories of his time: JFKs assassination, the Vietnam War, and Watergate, to name just a few. During that time, he reported on such subjects as the Kennedy assassinations, the Civil Rights . He hosted programs such as You Are There and The Twentieth Century. Walter Cronkite was a journalist who defined the role of network anchorman during the decades when television news rose from being the neglected stepchild of radio to a dominant form of journalism. By Louis Menand. Then he exclaimed, "Armstrong is on the moon -- Neil Armstrong, 38-year-old American, standing on the surface of the moon." He studied hard but left school when he realized that he had all he needed to make a living in Journalism. <p>'The most trusted man in America's fan mail was still . And it wasn't fluffyit was very clear. | Days later he made the very poignant announcement that Kennedy had died. Cronkite also refused to report stories until they were validated. Click here to try out our award-winning content platform for free. Id be selling myself and not the news.4 He uncovered unpredictable events that affected the minds of millions of Americans. As much as the public may have trusted Cronkite, he didnt top all surveys. As the world saw a boot finally touch lunar dust, words briefly failed Walter Cronkite. Being able to read an unbiased article, or watch an unbiased news reporter just seems non-existent in todays society. Its telling that Walter Cronkite, The most trusted man in America, held objectivity as the most vital quality for journalists. He claimed, "I built my reputation on honest, straightforward reporting. Thats where the family lived until moving to Houston, Texas when Walter was 10-years-old. Charlemagne would be short-lived (Baird would go on to produce The Sound of Musics Lonely Goatherd sceneand other legendary puppet shows), but Cronkite was notand eventually he branched out into editorial work like his lion friend. In 1968, he goes to Vietnam and does a documentary, Ward says. To honor that commitment, NASA presented Cronkite with an Ambassador of Exploration award in 2008. Even as a boy of seven, I recognized that he had that effect on me. Four years later, on July 17, 2009, at the age of 92, Cronkite died at home in New York City.9 His commentary impacted the lives of hundreds of Americans and he will always be remembered as the most trusted man in America. But you can still see it. This is the process of discovering, embracing and delivering their greatest value which allows them to realize greater profit. The CBS News security man began to protest but saw a murderous look in my eye and wisely let us pass. This story is about the most trusted man in America. Cronkite became a legendary figure and was often called "the most trusted man in America." Fast Facts: Walter Cronkite Cronkite refused to allow his personal beliefs to affect his job of reporting accurate news. Because he did. Cronkite, born November 4, 1916, got his start in journalism working as a radio announcer for a series of stations in Missouri. Walter Cronkite was born on November 4, 1916, in Saint Joseph, Missouri. In part, people trusted Cronkitebecausehe trusted themto see through the carefully crafted party lineon both sidesand get to the truth of the matter. It was his integrity and commitment to fair reporting which established him as the most trusted man in America. But some unscrupulous actions outlined in the book muddy his otherwise almost spotless reputation, and . He was an outstanding journalist, to be sure. Source: IMDB, Cronkite on the Cbs Evening News. Raised in Houston, Texas, he decided to become a journalist after reading a magazine article about a foreign correspondent. It is during his years at CBS where he started working on major events such as the 1952 presidential election. He truly laid out the foundation of what great newscasters should be like. Cronkite also trusted the people to respond well to his truth-telling and to use their intelligence to evaluate his words. Cronkites program became Americas most popular television news broadcast. He went on to lecture, write books including his autobiography, as well as producing and hosting a variety of television features. Yet the "most trusted man in America" seemed rather pleased he wasn't recognized at his own front door. According to polls, he was the most trusted man in Americamore than the first lady, the Pope or the president.. 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. This mission wasnt a media puff story either. to see through the carefully crafted party lineon both sidesand get to the truth of the matter. Scroll down for downloadable versions and subscribe to ReasonTV's YouTube Channel to receive automatic updates when new stories go live. In 1945, with the war over, Cronkite didn't stop reporting -- he kept his press pass and covered the Nuremberg Trials. His unassuming manner and sincerity were two reasons why people liked and trusted him so much. 6.26.2012 11:34 AM. Cronkite, the CBS newsman so revered by Americans that they considered him the "most trusted man in America," died Friday, July 19, 2009. . Walter Cronkite and the legend of CBS News. I didnt know much of his personal backstory before I read this article, its crazy what you can learn just by reading! Cronkite has changed how people deliver news forever now. He was a true ambassador for the program with a giant reach that no one in NASA could have had alone. A few minutes before air, I really needed a cigarette. Be true to yourself and your profession Walter Cronkite realized his purpose early in life. Cronkite was a firm believer in doing what is fair. "There never was and there never will be another Walter Cronkite. #3 Integrity. Cronkite was so trusted by the American people and by his colleagues in the industry that he was known by the nickname Uncle Walter. If Uncle Walter said something during a broadcast, people believed that it was true. After the war, as the TV news era blossomed, Cronkite was there to become one of its key figures. "Everybody knew that Walter didn't get his suntan in the studio lights." Cronkite. In a world saturated with reality TV and tell-all blogs, you have to look harder to see itthat sense of self-reserve, tough but with a soft centerthat used to be middle Americas ideal self-image. Walter Cronkite, the CBS newsman so revered by Americans that they considered him the "most trusted man in America," died today. Uncle Walters word was gold.. This story already sounds like fiction doesnt it? Today, more and more reporters never leave the comforts of their desks. Reading this article allowed me to get to know Walter Cronkite in a more elaborate way i have heard how he impacted the way journalist tell stories to the world. Reading the encomiums in his honorand watching the raw man-in-the-street interviews Friday nightthere is a clear hierarchy of what people meant when they said they trusted Walter Cronkite. One way around the Fairness Doctrine was to tamp down controversy, which all three networks often did. It was as if he enjoyed being reminded to remain humble, especially after all of the success and adulation he earned throughout his remarkable career. #1 Honesty. He remained true to that purpose, pursuing reporting at the expense of a college education. Cronkite went off to become a news editor for United Press International (UPI). Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. (November 4, 1916 - July 17, 2009) was an American broadcast journalist who served as anchorman for the CBS Evening News [1] for 19 years, from 1962 to 1981. For more than a month, his close friends and family made it clear the former CBS News anchorman was gravely ill and would not recover. All rights reserved. What a great read, I wish there were more Walter Cronkites in todays society. 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. Forty years ago, a man walked on the Moon. 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. Cronkite covered nearly every American manned spaceflight from 1961 to 1981. Cronkite popularized television news. Walter Cronkites iconic sign-off and thats the way it is was taken at face value by the nation. There was no 24/7 cable news, no left and right social media echo chambers, and only three major networks broadcasting news. News no longer waits for a single trusted voice and "the way it is" depends on who you choose to believe. This should be something all reporters should strive for, especially in this polarized society. Quite simply, people trusted what they used, not vice versa, Monck and Hanley write. Why was Walter Cronkite so well respected? If Cronkite were working in todays news environment, painting the news from the same palette he used when he anchored the CBSprogram, would viewers still invest their deep trust in him? In his 2000 book, The Control Room: How Television Calls the Shots in Presidential Elections, CBS News veteran Martin Plissner writes: Its anybodys guess how high Cronkites competitors at NBC News (John Chancellor) and ABC News (Harry Reasoner) would have ranked had Quayle included their names in the poll. It was a different time. The news business has both expanded and fragmented in the post-Cronkite, post-Fairness Doctrine era. A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials. Well never knowand thats the way it is. Its those characteristics which make him a fearless brand. I liked reporting as well. These instances, including the moon landing, assassination of JFK, and his editorial about the stalemate in Vietnam humanized the Anchorman, and helped earn him the fond nickname of, "Uncle Walter". A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. If the nostalgia for Cronkitian news values were genuine, youd expect PBSs soporific News Hour would be drawing huge and growing numbers of viewers. He became the host of the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite. No streaming internet video, no podcasts, not even a remote control. It was a total disaster, and hes lucky to get out of there alive, Ward says. In 1968, there were plenty of people who were protesting the war in Vietnam. "Indeed, a bunch of people were running around but I got to the chair in time for the broadcast." Learn everything you can about a topic to ensure that you are known as a valid and trusted resource. Public mistrust of the government reached a new level, and Cronkites interview of Ellsbergcaptured ina photographnow among the National Portrait Gallerys collectionsbecame one of the many iconic moments of his career. The most frequent comment, expressed in several ways, was that Cronkite was honest. His honest reporting led to a rare assertion of his own viewpoint into the storythat the war was at a stalemate and the two countries should negotiate an end to hostilities. I think he was so trusted because he exhibited a sense of purpose and compassion, night after night. Speaking of papers, youd think that given Cronkites status as one of the worlds most respected and well-traveled public figures, hed draw special attention from the FBI. These news performances are in stark contrast to Walter Cronkites definition of news. Two months later, it was Walter who broke the news to the American public that Kennedy had been shot. He left school to work for the Houston Post, moved onto sports reporting in Oklahoma City and eventually was hired by United Press International (UPI). Your email address will not be published. No satellite dish. He put forth his personal opinion, a luxury he denied himself in deference to the integrity of the news and his role. Cronkite's death spurs flood of words, memories. Cronkite, who through his news presenting had become known as "the most trusted man in America," was on air for 27 of the 30 hours it took for the crew of Apollo 11 to complete their mission,. But we connected with him because of his obvious compassion, modesty, and joyous enthusiasm. July 18, 2009 -- One day after legendary reporter and anchorman Walter Cronkite died, colleagues and admirers are mourning the loss of "the most trusted" voice that led America through 40 years of . 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