An honest unbiased reporter would be very refreshing in the current polarized times. Despite his objective persona, it was clear to his viewers that Cronkite was a real person with real interests and feelings. In 2019, cable news simulates a round-robin of screaming more than the news. Her work has appeared in publications like The Washington Post, TIME, mental_floss, Popular Science and JSTOR Daily. After graduating, Walter enrolled at the University of Texas, where he would study political science, economics and journalism in pursuit of becoming a reporter his dream career. A baritone drenched in overtones conveyed each of those character traits. Fearless brands understand that their passion is their fuel but that it has to be effectively managed. Your ambitious agenda is filling a desperate need.". He was an inspiration because he was one of the first household name reporters to have come out of television. The award, which is named for the late CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite, honors leading figures in journalism. As Lulu Guadalupe said, he truly laid out the foundation of what great newscasters should be like but alas, they are not. In 1950, Cronkite joined CBS News and hosted several CBS shows, such as You are There, The Morning Show, and The Twentieth Century. But when we're doing news, it is our duty to be sure that we do not permit our prejudices to show. For me, its a moment for which I long have planned, but which, nevertheless, comes with some sadness. "Helping set the day's agenda and deciding what we used and editing it, that was a journalistic high point. He did not let his political views get in the way of his reporting. He remained true to that purpose, pursuing reporting at the expense of a college education. He began his career with a commitment to journalism as well. His unassuming manner and sincerity were two reasons why people liked and trusted him so much. While in college, he worked as a part-time journalist for the Houston newspaper. 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. Additionally, I enjoy partaking in various on-campus and non-profit organizations. He kept his opinions, like his emotions, largely to himself. That element of implicit authority, we just dont have anymore.. So how and why did Walter Cronkite become . You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. 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? Cookie Policy It was 1977. I liked reporting as well. What wont diminish are the lessons which can be learned from Cronkite about building a brand and achieving success. 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. 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. Cronkite refused, but the idea reflected polls showing that a journalist -- a television journalist at that -- had become the most trusted man in America. People determine theres a better way to do things and, if theyre right, entire categories can be upended. 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. 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. Being able to read an unbiased article, or watch an unbiased news reporter just seems non-existent in todays society. 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. "President Lyndon Johnson certainly felt it. "You need to show me some ID.," the fellow demanded. During a casual . After the war, Walter would cover the Nuremberg war trials. During that time, he reported on such subjects as the Kennedy assassinations, the Civil Rights . Shot by Jim Epstein and Tracy Oppenheimer, and edited by Oppenheimer. It was a total disaster, and hes lucky to get out of there alive, Ward says. Trust Inc. Strategies for Building Your Company's Most Valuable Asset. As we mourn "the most trusted man in America" we also mourn the kind of television news that no longer exists. 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. This is the process of discovering, embracing and delivering their greatest value which allows them to realize greater profit. To do anything else would be phony. 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. What? #2 Selflessness. The Web, which can make the cable news channels look positively Cronkitian, has only reshattered the shards. He had a natural talent for communicating the truth that was nurtured by a very caring, middle class upbringing in the Mid-West. Of the spacewalk, he said, nothing compares with thisnot his experiences covering World War II or the various heads of state around the world. These results came about because Walter Cronkite was a fearless brand. 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. 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". "Ethics must be reintroduced to public service to restore people's faith in Government. Trust is a shoddy yardstick. Its hard to see the forest for the trees when all your concerns involve clicks. 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. The manner in which Walter delivered those stories genuine, caring, professional established him as a trusted news anchor. Because he did. Quite simply, people trusted what they used, not vice versa, Monck and Hanley write. "It's safe to say that Walter Cronkite was not the most trusted man in America, and it's safe to say he was not even the most trusted man among newsmen," says American University Professor Joseph Campbell, author of Getting it Wrong. He was 92. Nick Gillespie and Tracy Oppenheimer In the world of news, no matter who you voted for, the most glaringly absent quality is objectivity. He did not let his political views get in the way of his reporting. There was the notion that you could get reliable, accurate information delivered calmly and dispassionately by all of the networks, Ward says. 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. All rights reserved. Its the beginning of the so-called credibility gap: whats being told at the briefing become known as the 5 oclock follies, because after awhile, nobody believes anything that officialdom is saying, says Ward. Cronkites untouchable aura of authority led droves of viewers to change their opinions on Vietnam. 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. Cronkite was known for his calming presence and his ability to communicate complex events to the average viewer, who trusted "Uncle Walter" to explain the major events of the era. Hewas always the responsible father figure. Privacy Statement No streaming internet video, no podcasts, not even a remote control. Erin Blakemore is a Boulder, Colorado-based journalist. Click here to try out our award-winning content platform for free. Walter Leland Cronkite . By Louis Menand. Be skeptical, news consumers, especially of the journalists you trust most. Inspired by Army Division nicknames such as the Fighting 1st, the pool of writers dubbed themselves the Writing 69th. Walter Cronkite was the embodiment of true journalism factual, genuine, fair and accurate reporting. This is a mostly justifiable assessment. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); NEXT: Herman Van Rompuy Releases Terrifying Proposals Ahead of This Week's Summit. These news performances are in stark contrast to Walter Cronkites definition of news. Beware of those who fetishize trust, Monck and Hanley counsel. 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. Cronkite was the face of CBS from 1962 to 1981. He put forth his personal opinion, a luxury he denied himself in deference to the integrity of the news and his role. Its not just the naive and undereducated who end up trusting people and institutions that they shouldnt. Working on the desk was.". So What? Like obscenity, trust is awfully hard to define; but as Justice Potter said, you can recognize it when you see it. 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 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. Cronkite was 92. He hears one thing from the generals, and then he walks around and talks to GIs and Vietnamese, and he realizes theres a disconnect.. Forty years ago, a man walked on the Moon. Its those characteristics which make him a fearless brand. And it wasn't fluffyit was very clear. Your email address will not be published. If Cronkite were alive today, he would tearfully lament the political tribalism that permeates through news organizations. The newscasting industry, though very chaotic, needs more today like him to keep the peace and calm through the times. And one last thing. "That wasn't why I was laughing, young man," Walter said to me. Advertisement Well never knowand thats the way it is. Thats where the family lived until moving to Houston, Texas when Walter was 10-years-old. 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. 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. Indeed, his modesty and his dedication were the reasons his wide audience liked him so much and trusted him. And every article, blog or TV clip mentions how Walter Cronkite was so trusted. Privacy Statement Terms of Use Trust is an essential quality to have in any communicating experience, particularly newscasting. I think he was so trusted because he exhibited a sense of purpose and compassion, night after night. I am currently a senior at St. Marys University in San Antonio, Texas. Known as the most trusted man in America, Cronkite made his mark on a fledgling industry and earned a legendary spot in the affections of generations of viewers. They find sources and information through the internet -- research is easier than ever. "My dad was one of those people. 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. His funeral was held Thursday in New York. This story already sounds like fiction doesnt it? Cronkite stood out from his peers because of his commitment to truth and objectivity in journalism. 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. He was avuncular. New eBook from Charles H. Green, loaded with insights and action steps on how to get back in the selling water, without fear. Cronkite became "the most trusted man in America" according to a Gallup Poll, . Your Privacy Rights That his passing coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Moon landing is less a surprise than a cosmic alignment. Cronkite strongly influenced the politics and outcome of the Vietnam War. Walter Cronkite realized his purpose early in life. Walter with his steady, calming and professional manner was the trusted source of news for the nation. Originally it was a 15-minute broadcast, but due to his high ratings, it was extended to 30 minutes, being the first half-hour nightly news show on American television.3, Cronkite was well-known across America for his hard work, honesty, and objectivity. Authoritative, calm, rationalthey explained the world to you, Ward says. 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. Cronkites enthusiasm for the U.S. space program carried throughout his journalistic career and helped Americans follow and support the program. Mr Cronkite's opinion was so trusted by the US public that when he criticised the war in Vietnam, President Lyndon B Johnson is reported to have said: "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost middle America." Linda Mason, the vice-president of CBS, said Mr Cronkite had died at 1942 local time (2342 GMT) on Friday after a long illness. Certainly felt it as we mourn `` the most trusted man in America '' we also mourn the kind television. Him to keep the peace and calm through the times quot ; must... Division nicknames such as the Kennedy assassinations, the pool of writers dubbed themselves the Writing 69th said... Naive and undereducated who end up trusting people and institutions that they shouldnt tearfully lament the political that. 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