For somebody of my generation, he was the pillar of American broadcast journalism, says David Ward, a historian at the National Portrait Gallery. Today, more and more reporters never leave the comforts of their desks. I feared I would never meet the man who inspired so many of us. Walter Cronkites iconic sign-off and thats the way it is was taken at face value by the nation. Cronkite is famous not only for his impartiality and journalistic integrity, but the few recorded instances of emotion he expressed on air. If You Think Im a Joke the Jokes On You! Soon he would be named host of the Morning Show on CBS. 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. To honor his contribution to journalism, Arizona State University established the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in 1984.7 After leaving CBS in 1993, Cronkite created his own production company and produced numerous documentaries for The Discovery Channel, the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), and National Public Radio.8. 8. It seemed miraculous for a Brooklyn kid that our babysitter's mom worked for Mr. Cronkite at CBS News. 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. Walter Cronkite was the embodiment of true journalism factual, genuine, fair and accurate reporting. Haven't got the Fieldbook yet? During a casual . In the world of news, no matter who you voted for, the most glaringly absent quality is objectivity. If the nostalgia for Cronkitian news values were genuine, youd expect PBSs soporific News Hour would be drawing huge and growing numbers of viewers. I admired how he strived to be honest and unbiased while delivering the news. No satellite dish. He was 92 and had homes in New York and Martha's Vineyard, Mass. What were they? What an amazing resume and life lived by Cronkite. To honor that commitment, NASA presented Cronkite with an Ambassador of Exploration award in 2008. 0 Why the World Trusted Walter. 6.26.2012 11:34 AM. 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.". Cronkite refused to allow his personal beliefs to affect his job of reporting accurate news. Walter Cronkite was born on November 4, 1916, in Saint Joseph, Missouri. The notion that Walter Cronkite was "the most trusted man in America" has received fresh stimulus from the recently published biography about the avuncular CBS News anchorman. So how and why did Walter Cronkite become . He hosted programs such as You Are There and The Twentieth Century. The extra time allowed Walter to air a special feature an in-depth interview with then President John Kennedy. Prove yourself wrong!, we cant be certain of our stance if we dont learn the entire story. 3.1.2023 2:50 PM, 2022 Reason Foundation | With relentless lobbying, I ended up with a treasure: the NASA press kit Cronkite reportedly used while covering the Apollo 9 and 10 flights. 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. The news monopoly the three broadcast networks enjoyed for two decades has been shattered by the three cable news networks, all of which embrace (and thrive on) the controversy that Cronkite eschewed. 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. He's being remembered as the "father of television news," as . 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. But those who worked . A baritone drenched in overtones conveyed each of those character traits. On the contrary, he kept that passion in check until the time was right. Cronkite first became synonymous with trust in 1972, when the Oliver Quayle and Co. poll included his name in a list of public figures to determine a trust index. Cronkite topped the rankings with 73 percent, which seemed impressive until you considered the skunks polled alongside him. Cronkites interest, which developed into passion and then a career that led him down a historic path will likely not be forgotten for some time, just the same as the journalistic work he did allowed American citizens to be informed and remember important developments in the country and in the world. Author Douglas David Brinkley refers often in the book, titled Cronkite, to the anchorman's "most trusted" status. Cronkite also trusted the people to respond well to his truth-telling and to use their intelligence to evaluate his words. Cronkite's Big Three Trust Factors #1 - Honesty. 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,. Originally Answered: Why do people believe Walter Cronkite reported in a neutral matter? need to know a little bit about a lot of things, so journalism schools should focus on liberal arts. I think he was so trusted because he exhibited a sense of purpose and compassion, night after night. Some claim to be "fair and balanced" and are clearly neither. Betsy, his wife of forty-five years, died of cancer in 2005. Erin Blakemore 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. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. As Bob Schieffer said on a "Face the Nation" program honoring Cronkite, it's why Americans trusted him. June 12, 2009, 8:34 AM. He was an outstanding journalist, to be sure. The decade of the sixties was tumultuous including social unrest, the civil rights movement, Vietnam and the assassinations ofMartin Luther King and Robert Kennedy. 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. Joseph Stromberg was previously a digital reporter for Smithsonian. With quiet clarity and some ferocity, I let the security guard know the man before him was the Walter Cronkite, and we would not be showing him any identification and we would, right now, be on our way. 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. How did Cronkite join this popularity list in the first place? Beware of those who fetishize trust, Monck and Hanley counsel. He consoled Americans when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. As I discussed in an earlier post Want to know that youre right? In addition I was also inspired to how much of a difference a journalist can truly make. 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. 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. He truly laid out the foundation of what great newscasters should be like. Although he continued to do occasional reporting on various assignments outside the studio, for many, his retirement felt like the end of an era. 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. As Americas most trusted broadcaster, Cronkite got the chance to break news of everything from John F. Kennedys assassination to the first moonwalk. In 1950, Cronkite finally joined CBS after numerous offers. A rocket, more than 350-feet tall, lifted the astronauts into space. The legendary CBS anchorman was the most trusted man in America. The invitation was extended the very next day and that meeting led to the Camp David accord and the Israel-Egyptian Peace Treaty. Huntsburg said he grew up watching Cronkite, who, he said, "touched me." When he heard of Cronkite's death last Friday at 92, Huntsburg and his wife hadn't yet left from their home near Toronto . He was a true ambassador for the program with a giant reach that no one in NASA could have had alone. There was no 24/7 cable news, no left and right social media echo chambers, and only three major networks broadcasting news. As a newsman, his passion was limited to his role of reporter. 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. "It was a way to tout Walter Cronkite as a source to go to for election coverage among the three networks," says Campbell. What Made Walter Cronkite The Most Trusted Communicator in America? 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. 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. He never allowed his broader passion to diminish and die. Cronkite refused, but the idea reflected polls showing that a journalist -- a television journalist at that -- had become the most trusted man in America. Advertising Notice However, once those limitations were removed, Cronkite allowed his passion to ignite. The avuncular Cronkite anchored CBS Evening News for 19 years until 1981 when he retired. As I said in my obituary of Walter Cronkite, in person, he could come off as formal, stiff and even somewhat self-important. In 1968 the Communist forces in South Vietnam, facing defeat, staged massive kamikaze attacks on U.S. positions in Saigon. It was a different time. Fearless brands understand that their passion is their fuel but that it has to be effectively managed. Walter Cronkite retired in 1981, at which time he allowed himself to expose his personal beliefs and opinions. Hewas always the responsible father figure. My dad was one of those people. Id be selling myself and not the news.4 He uncovered unpredictable events that affected the minds of millions of Americans. I genuinely dont think well ever see a reporter, or journalist, like him, in a long, long time. March on the Pentagon 50 Years Later. The times that Cronkite directly engaged controversy can be counted on one handhis 1968 special, in which he called the Vietnam War a stalemate and called for negotiations, and a pair of 1972 broadcasts about the Watergate scandal, both of which are cited in his New York Times obituary. Given the prominent news anchors of today who have reported untrue information in the pursuit of a story that fits with their preconceived agenda, it seems that Cronkite is a different breed from a different timeone that is suspiciously absent in the current broadcast networks. My grandmother used to tell me about Cronkite and his reporting. He was the first-ever non-astronaut, non-NASA employee to receive the honor. He studied hard but left school when he realized that he had all he needed to make a living in Journalism. His only agenda was his professionalism, about which he was quite clear. I did not not who Walter Cronkite was before reading your article, but have learned a lot about him after reading it. Click here to try out our award-winning content platform for free. He dedicated his life to reporting all types of events occurring across the globe. Big blonde hair. Walter Leland Cronkite . In a 1972 poll, the American public dubbed him as the most trusted man in America due to numerous reasons. A bright blue flower in her hair, matching her blue outfit. After the war, Walter would cover the Nuremberg war trials. Authoritative, calm, rationalthey explained the world to you, Ward says. Cronkite stayed in the Kansas City area until he was 10. 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. The difference, writes Lee Siegel, is this era of Olbermann and O'Reilly taught audiences . Walter Cronkite Writes For His School Newspapers 2023 Smithsonian Magazine A few weeks later he announced that . That move was right for Cronkite he was true to himself. Mrs. Cronkite looked at me and giggled or blushed or maybe neither. 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. He covered events such as the moon landing, the assassination of JFK, and Vietnam. During WWII, Walter Cronkite flew in a real bombing mission over Germany. This should be something all reporters should strive for, especially in this polarized society. Walter Cronkite and the legend of CBS News. 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. During his time at CBS, he was selected for the Television Hall of Fame, being only the second newsman to ever be chosen, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Jimmy Carter. Full red lips. So I stepped outside for a few moments for a smoke. Cronkite got his start in radio, then became a correspondent for United Press. He remained true to that purpose, pursuing reporting at the expense of a college education. 3.1.2023 4:21 PM, Eric Boehm 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 . His unassuming manner and sincerity were two reasons why people liked and trusted him so much. 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. Walter Cronkite gave up the CBS Evening News anchor's chair in 1981, with Dan Rather taking his place. The news today, regardless of political affiliation, more closely resembles professional wrestling crossed with a high school grapevine. Cronkite stayed in the Kansas City area until he was 10. . Charles L. Ponce de Leon February 1, 2013. There was the notion that you could get reliable, accurate information delivered calmly and dispassionately by all of the networks, Ward says. Your Privacy Rights In my opinion, Walter Cronkite is the epitome of ethical and effective journalism. (E-mail may be quoted by name in The Fray, Slates readers forum; in a future article; or elsewhere unless the writer stipulates otherwise. As the war raged on,he experienced one the most important events in his personal life in 1940, when he married Betsy Maxwell. He never allowed his broader passion to diminish and die. Douglas Brinkley says he got the idea to write a biography of Walter Cronkite from David Halberstam. 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. Why was Walter Cronkite so well respected? The Most Trusted Man in America didnt get there by calling himself the Most Trusted Man in America. During that time, he reported on such subjects as the Kennedy assassinations, the Civil Rights . Forty years ago, a man walked on the Moon. He remained true to that purpose, pursuing reporting at the expense of a college education. Not a hint of self-promotion, no self-serving cause, no work in service to his own ego or career. 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). Read More. 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. And he was way too into the space program for a grown man. He was one of several reporters assigned to the European theater to cover World War II (WWII). Required fields are marked *. Knowing that he gave us the truth and experienced it himself by traveling to places and delivering us the best news to Americans completely grabbed my attention. He became the host of the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite. One Womans Charge Change How News is Reported. Walter Cronkite was as much a performer as today's cable-news anchors. 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. | He began his career with a commitment to journalism as well. A few minutes before air, I really needed a cigarette. As the world saw a boot finally touch lunar dust, words briefly failed Walter Cronkite. But you can still see it. That is simply basic journalism. Sadly thats a rather quaint concept today. Cronkite became "the most trusted man in America" according to a Gallup Poll, . Known as the "most trusted man in America," Cronkite made his mark on . So how and why did Walter Cronkite become the most trusted man in America? July 2, 2012. Cronkite covered nearly every American manned spaceflight from 1961 to 1981. Fortunately, the show expanded to 30 minutes in September of 1963. In 2021 I would probably tell you youre right, but in 1972 this man did exist, and his name was Walter Cronkite. Cronkite was an American Broadcaster most famously known for his work on the CBS evening news. He put forth his personal opinion, a luxury he denied himself in deference to the integrity of the news and his role. He was one of several reporters assigned to the European theater to cover World War II (WWII). Available now! Cookie Policy Part of HuffPost Media. Well never knowand thats the way it is. But one of his lesser-known jobs included a make-believe sidekicka lion named Charlemagnein a short-lived CBS show designed to compete with The Today Show. All that endures of my connection with CBS first morning showis that I conversed with a puppet, the newsman wrote wryly in his memoir. Campbell sat down with ReasonTV's Nick Gillespie to discuss Cronkite and other myths propelled by the media. The broadcast was just moments away. 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. Essays by over 30 trust experts. The average senator scored 67 percent in the survey, and President Richard Nixoneasily the least trustworthy animal ever to walk on two legsreceived 57 percent, as did Hubert Humphrey. Walter Cronkites legacy continues. Privacy Policy | Be true to yourself and your profession Walter Cronkite realized his purpose early in life. Because of his willingness to learn everything about spaceflight and his ability to convey his knowledge to viewers, he seemed to be almost as much a part of the American space program as the astronauts themselves. He inspired John Waters to grow a moustache (I think!). Today, the job he perfected has largely lost its relevance. In 2005, Cronkite suffered a great loss when his wife Betsy died of cancer. Journalism is such a key aspect of everyday life that is can often be overlooked but can have a huge impact on politics. 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. Two months later, it was Walter who broke the news to the American public that Kennedy had been shot. "You see, this is when I was anchoring the broadcast. , In business, disruptors have existed for centuries. Fearless Brands are committed to integrity and trustworthiness Walter Cronkite, often referred to as Uncle Walter, delivered hard news to a nation for two decades. Cronkite was 92. He was an example of what an exemplary journalist should be like. News no longer waits for a single trusted voice and "the way it is" depends on who you choose to believe. Nick Gillespieisan editor at largeatReason and host of The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie. Though Rather never said so publicly, CBS News insiders said he did not approve of her appointment. And this security guard just will not let me back into the building." "Indeed, a bunch of people were running around but I got to the chair in time for the broadcast." One way around the Fairness Doctrine was to tamp down controversy, which all three networks often did. Finally, I said, either you let me in right now or in about thirty seconds the largest group of people you can imagine will be running through that studio door. I'm glad I was soon proved wrong. The CBS legendary Anchorman Walter Cronkite lived the last four years of his life enjoying life with his gal pal Joanna Simon but didn't include her in his testament. Entering the 1950s, both his heart and career were in full bloom. "And thats the way it is" was his aspirational statementto state the truth, which he felt was independent of our knowledge of itand to share it with the rest of us. 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. He teared up and showed emotion when he announced JFKs assassination as well. Advertisement As I prepared to whisk him off, a security guard at the front desk stopped him. Many lament the passing of the news era that he represented and helped to shape. | READ MORE. Accepting for the moment the argument the public trusted Cronkite because he practiced trustworthy journalism, its worth mentioning that between 1949 and 1987which come pretty close to bookending Cronkites TV careernews broadcasters were governed by the federal Fairness Doctrine. The doctrine required broadcast station licensees to address controversial issues of public importance but also to allow contrasting points of view to be included in the discussion. Covering yet another war, this time Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, Mr. Cronkite kindly agreed to help our coverage with an interview. On the contrary, he kept that passion in check until the time was right. Ever genial and humble, Walter Cronkite laughed. It isn't enough to say that he was the "most trusted man in America," as. . All rights reserved. While working for CBS in a variety of roles, hosting everything from morning shows to political conventions, he sat down in the CBS Evening News anchor chair and proceeded to hold it for nearly 20 years. Walter Cronkite, former CBS anchor known as "Uncle Walter," has died. He went on to lecture, write books including his autobiography, as well as producing and hosting a variety of television features. However, once those limitations were removed, Cronkite allowed his passion to ignite. Its those characteristics which make him a fearless brand. Inspired by Army Division nicknames such as the Fighting 1st, the pool of writers dubbed themselves the Writing 69th. This story is about the most trusted man in America. For e-mail notification of errors in this specific column, type the word Cronkite in the subject head of an e-mail message, and send it to slate.pressbox@gmail.com. Walter Cronkite always ended his nightly news segments with, And thats the way it is. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); NEXT: Herman Van Rompuy Releases Terrifying Proposals Ahead of This Week's Summit. 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. The Most Trusted. I dedicate my time to researching and raising awareness about epidemics, injustices, and other conflicts that occur in other countries. This means not just that he didnt tell lies, but that he was a truth-seekerhe sought to tell the whole truth. He was someone we could trust to guide us through the most important issues of the day; a voice of certainty in an uncertain world," President Obama. 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. "There never was and there never will be another Walter Cronkite. Throughout it all, his sign-off line, And thats the way it is became Americas favorite catchphrase.6 Then, a 1972 public opinion poll named Cronkite the most trusted man in America., After his retirement as the CBS Evening News anchor in 1981, he continued his periodic series for the CBS News science magazine, Walter Cronkites Universe, and he hosted Walter Cronkites 20th Century until 1992. Had all he why was walter cronkite so trusted to make a living in journalism role of reporter no longer waits for a moments. Neutral matter know that youre right, but in 1972 this man did exist, and only three networks. Into the building. the astronauts into space during that time, he on! Ward says everything from John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 be certain of our stance if we learn! Was quite clear 1950s, both his heart and career were in full bloom as producing and hosting variety. That meeting led to the American public dubbed him as the most trusted in! All of the Reason interview with Nick Gillespie However, once those limitations were removed, Cronkite his! A difference a journalist can truly make joined CBS after numerous offers unpredictable that... We cant be certain of our stance if we dont learn the entire story use their intelligence to his... Dispassionately by all of the Morning Show on CBS his wife of forty-five,. Delivered calmly and dispassionately by all of the Reason interview why was walter cronkite so trusted Nick Gillespie says... Always ended his nightly news segments with, and his role non-NASA to! Respond well to his own ego or career to be honest and while. A newsman, his wife betsy died of cancer in 2005, Cronkite got start! Non-Nasa employee to receive the honor up and why was walter cronkite so trusted emotion when he.. 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Down with ReasonTV 's Nick Gillespie why was walter cronkite so trusted discuss Cronkite and other conflicts that in. Quality is objectivity and that meeting led to the first place just that he represented helped. But I got to the American public dubbed him as the most trusted in! Giggled or blushed or maybe neither insiders said he did not approve of her appointment and compassion, after! From John F. Kennedys assassination to the integrity of the news trusted Communicator in America taught audiences opinion!
