So I stepped outside for a few moments for a smoke. Cronkite refused to allow his personal beliefs to affect his job of reporting accurate news. 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 . It was very enjoyable reading about him. So much so that a poll taken in 1972 named him the most trusted man in America more so than the president at that time, Richard M. Nixon. The definition of trust is even more contextual; there are dozens of meanings of trust, yet we nearly always recognize them when we see them. He did not let his political views get in the way of his reporting. And this security guard just will not let me back into the building." Cronkite, the CBS newsman so revered by Americans that they considered him the "most trusted man in America," died Friday, July 19, 2009. . #2 Selflessness. The news today, regardless of political affiliation, more closely resembles professional wrestling crossed with a high school grapevine. "Walter was always more than just an anchor. And he was way too into the space program for a grown man. His college career lasted only two years. Walters influence, trust and journalistic accomplishments he won virtually every award the industry offered set the standard for journalism for the nation and the world. He sailed. This mission wasnt a media puff story either. Heading back, I'm stopped by another security guard a fellow I never saw before. His latest cause was world government and. A community-based video production company focused on documenting the rich history of Old Saint Jo through the use of social media. As Americas most trusted broadcaster, Cronkite got the chance to break news of everything from John F. Kennedys assassination to the first moonwalk. Because he did. He gave suburb news with honesty of facts. 6.26.2012 11:34 AM. Walter Cronkite Writes For His School Newspapers Embrace Cronkites approach be true to yourself and your profession, be fair, commit to a life of integrity be a fearless brand. I didnt know much of his personal backstory before I read this article, its crazy what you can learn just by reading! 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. He was someone we could trust to guide us through the most . He wasn't the most educated or the best-looking newsman, but he was perhaps the most diligent. In 1968, he goes to Vietnam and does a documentary, Ward says. 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. And every article, blog or TV clip mentions how Walter Cronkite was so trusted. First listed . In 1981, CBSs mandatory retirement age of 65 required that Cronkite step down from his post. 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. All rights reserved. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine The scores of obituaries and appreciations now being heaped upon Walter Cronkites funeral bier almost unanimously express how much the country trusted him. . People determine theres a better way to do things and, if theyre right, entire categories can be upended. Your ambitious agenda is filling a desperate need.". Full red lips. New eBook from Charles H. Green, loaded with insights and action steps on how to get back in the selling water, without fear. 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. Douglas Brinkley says he got the idea to write a biography of Walter Cronkite from David Halberstam. It will make you smarter and keep them honest. The Most Trusted. "It was a way to tout Walter Cronkite as a source to go to for election coverage among the three networks," says Campbell. 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. For 19 years, beginning in 1962 . 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. "When the Eagle landed on the moon, I was speechless - overwhelmed, like most of the world. "My dad was one of those people. Erin Blakemore is a Boulder, Colorado-based journalist. Now, we just have many reporters that like to spread false information just to make certain leaders in power look good when the country is actually suffering, they should really be following his example. 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 . This should be something all reporters should strive for, especially in this polarized society. 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. 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. He began to work on his high school newspaper as well as the yearbook. Advertising Notice These results came about because Walter Cronkite was a fearless brand. "There was a reason why Walter was called the most . 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. 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.". With the help of our community staff & student interns; we interview, document, and create content for global viewing. However, Cronkite actually dropped out of college in his junior year in order to pursue various reporting jobs. If so, you owe something to Walter CronkiteAmerica's uncle and the most influential broadcast journalist of all time. A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. The extra time allowed Walter to air a special feature an in-depth interview with then President John Kennedy. He was one of several reporters assigned to the European theater to cover World War II (WWII). Though Rather never said so publicly, CBS News insiders said he did not approve of her appointment. With relentless lobbying, I ended up with a treasure: the NASA press kit Cronkite reportedly used while covering the Apollo 9 and 10 flights. 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. 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. One of the key reasons was his integrity. Riding the Shark Conquering Fear in Selling. An undated image of CBS newscaster Walter Cronkite, has his arm wrapped around wife, Betsy, arriving for a private party with his daughters Kathy and Nancy (right) at . I finally stopped trying. The Most Trusted Man in America didnt get there by calling himself the Most Trusted Man in America. But it was Walter Cronkite and the team of journalists he inspired that brought the rest of us to the Moon. He was one of those rare folks who discovered their love and lifes purpose at a very young age. 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. Journalism is such a key aspect of everyday life that is can often be overlooked but can have a huge impact on politics. There, he became an overseas war correspondent during World War II, where he reported on German bombing raids and the invasion of North Africa, and he was eventually appointed the chief correspondent for the Nuremberg trials.2, Upon his return to the United States, Cronkite had caught the attention of many American news networks, including the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). Uncle Walters word was gold.. Thats where the family lived until moving to Houston, Texas when Walter was 10-years-old. His only agenda was his professionalism, about which he was quite clear. She sat for the interview. He inspired John Waters to grow a moustache (I think!). After presenting the first moonwalk to an audience of a full 45 percent of the 125 million people who were glued to their screens that day, he told his co-anchor that nothing compares with thisnot even his experiences covering World War II or the exploits of various heads of state. 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. Words fail to describe the magnificence of this accomplishment. His 1968 critique of the Vietnam War became a turning point, reflecting souring public opinion of the stalemate and solidifying his role as Americas most trusted man., He was the first non-astronaut given a coveted space award. "You see, this is when I was anchoring the broadcast. If Cronkite were alive today, he would tearfully lament the political tribalism that permeates through news organizations. In part, people trusted Cronkitebecausehe trusted themto see through the carefully crafted party lineon both sidesand get to the truth of the matter. In 1945, with the war over, Cronkite didn't stop reporting -- he kept his press pass and covered the Nuremberg Trials. Weeks later, CBS's Walter Cronkite by some estimations the most trusted man in America famously repudiated the "optimism of the American leaders" and called into question the . But some unscrupulous actions outlined in the book muddy his otherwise almost spotless reputation, and . How so? Seek the complete storyIn Cronkites own words In seeking truth you have to get both sides of a story.That approach is a rare quality in todays journalism circles in our society for that matter. Ever genial and humble, Walter Cronkite laughed. Cronkite got his start in radio, then became a correspondent for United Press. These results came about because Walter Cronkite was a fearless brand. 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