What Made Walter Cronkite The Most Trusted Communicator in America? One way around the Fairness Doctrine was to tamp down controversy, which all three networks often did. 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. Advertising Notice Cronkite, born November 4, 1916, got his start in journalism working as a radio announcer for a series of stations in Missouri. Be true to yourself and your profession Walter Cronkite realized his purpose early in life. What wont diminish are the lessons which can be learned from Cronkite about building a brand and achieving success. 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. It was this Cooper-like reserve that gave him such power on the few occasions he did weigh in with a Big Opinion. 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. If Cronkite reported it thats really the way it was. Learn more at erinblakemore.com. Lyndon B. Johnson to state, "If I've lost . 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. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. His voice. 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. Subscribe to Reason Roundup, a wrap up of the last 24 hours of news, delivered fresh each morning. "He puts on his captain's hat and does that every day," she said with a Candida-type half-shrug, half-smile. The power of the voice of an unbiased reporter symbolizes the importance of understanding all news, good and bad, at home and abroad. Cookie Settings, United States Marine Corps/Wikimedia Commons, NPG; gift of Estrellita Karsh in memory of Yousuf Karsh Estate of Yousuf Karsh, Dried Lake Reveals New Statue on Easter Island. Cronkite, the main influence at CBS News, chose to err on the side of valid news rather than being first to break a story. Source: IMDB, Walter Cronkite during his time as a war correspondent during WWII. Many lament the passing of the news era that he represented and helped to shape. "Everybody knew that Walter didn't get his suntan in the studio lights." Cronkite. Walter Cronkite realized his purpose early in life. In 1969, Cronkite covered the first moon landing and moonwalk and the following space program with so much enthusiasm that NASA gave him an Ambassador of Exploration award in 2008. 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. 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. To do anything else would be phony. His only agenda was his professionalism, about which he was quite clear. Ample breasts. 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. 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. Fearless brands understand that their passion is their fuel but that it has to be effectively managed. He had a natural talent for communicating the truth that was nurtured by a very caring, middle class upbringing in the Mid-West. Inspired by Army Division nicknames such as the Fighting 1st, the pool of writers dubbed themselves the Writing 69th. 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. Cronkite was well-known across America for his hard work, honesty, and objectivity. My grandmother used to tell me about Cronkite and his reporting. Trust is an essential quality to have in any communicating experience, particularly newscasting. He claimed, I built my reputation on honest, straightforward reporting. Cronkite covered nearly every American manned spaceflight from 1961 to 1981. It was his integrity and commitment to fair reporting which established him as the most trusted man in America. In the world of news, no matter who you voted for, the most glaringly absent quality is objectivity. In moments that shocked the country, Cronkite was able to deliver hard news with diligence. For me, its a moment for which I long have planned, but which, nevertheless, comes with some sadness. Cookie Policy 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 was as much a performer as today's cable-news anchors. Why Was Walter Cronkite So Well Respected? 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. Well, almost everyone. I cant add much to the list of eloquent obituaries for Walter Cronkite, other than to say I agree with them. My unscientific sampling [], I recently listened to Howard Sterns interview with (Sir) Paul McCartney. After the war, Walter would cover the Nuremberg war trials. Walter Cronkite was the embodiment of true journalism factual, genuine, fair and accurate reporting. Embrace Cronkites approach be true to yourself and your profession, be fair, commit to a life of integrity be a fearless brand. Start spreading the news: The townhouse that formerly belonged to the late CBS anchor Walter Cronkite will hit the market for $7.7 million. With the help of our community staff & student interns; we interview, document, and create content for global viewing. I left my jacket and wallet in the studio and we're going to be on the air in a few minutes. Walter Cronkite Writes For His School Newspapers The Most Trusted Man in America didnt get there by calling himself the Most Trusted Man in America. 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. "That wasn't why I was laughing, young man," Walter said to me. 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. Track my errors: This hand-built RSS feed will ring every time Slate runs a Press Box correction. He covered the 1952 presidential elections, and he helped introduce The Beatles to the United States. His latest cause was world government and. Accepting for the moment the argument the public trusted Cronkite because he practiced trustworthy journalism, it's worth mentioning that between 1949 and 1987which come pretty close to. Being able to read an unbiased article, or watch an unbiased news reporter just seems non-existent in todays society. I feel like nowadays we let our political views get in the way of each and every news story that it almost seems biased now. That is simply basic journalism. Sadly thats a rather quaint concept today. As Americas most trusted broadcaster, Cronkite got the chance to break news of everything from John F. Kennedys assassination to the first moonwalk. | Nice job! "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. He gave suburb news with honesty of facts. Cronkite won the best-known category, but John Chancellor took the honors for best-liked and most-watched TV newsperson. Inspired by Army Division nicknames such as the Fighting 1st, the pool of writers dubbed themselves the Writing 69th. Be skeptical, news consumers, especially of the journalists you trust most. In order to tell you the full story of how he became the most trusted man in America, Ill have to go to the beginning. Today, the job he perfected has largely lost its relevance. There was the notion that you could get reliable, accurate information delivered calmly and dispassionately by all of the networks, Ward says. Cronkite refused to allow his personal beliefs to affect his job of reporting accurate news. 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. Night after night, Walter Cronkite came into the living room reporting the news, and people trusted that he was giving them the truth. His story came to an end in 2009 when he passed away at the age of 92. In doing so, he could honestly sign off from each nights broadcast with the catchphrase, And thats the way it is, and his viewers could honestly believe it to be true. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. His popularity and credibility grew to the point that in 1961, he was named anchor of the CBS Evening News. Cronkite's Big Three Trust Factors #1 - Honesty. In 1927, his family relocated to Houston, Texas where he grew in admiration of journalism after reading an article in American Boy magazine.1 After this, his interest encouraged him to avidly work at his middle school and high school newspapers. Walter Cronkite became the first significant news anchor on American television, an achievement that he handled with innate modesty. 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. Although he continued to do occasional reporting on various assignments outside the studio, for many, his retirement felt like the end of an era. This was a fascinating article about a journalist that I have never heard of before. Not a hint of self-promotion, no self-serving cause, no work in service to his own ego or career. 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. 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 doubt it. He was a true ambassador for the program with a giant reach that no one in NASA could have had alone. "You need to show me some ID.," the fellow demanded. Walter Cronkite, former CBS anchor known as "Uncle Walter," has died. Have you watched the news lately? Cronkite refused, but the idea reflected polls showing that a journalist -- a television journalist at that -- had become the most trusted man in America. This should be something all reporters should strive for, especially in this polarized society. He was someone we could trust to guide us through 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. He had a beer gut. That his passing coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Moon landing is less a surprise than a cosmic alignment. "Whew, boy, " he said, as Armstrong descended the ladder. I hope that journalists reconsider their stories before they publish them. Despite the fact that there was less scrutiny on the media during Cronkites time than today, he approached his career as a broadcaster with integrity and with a sense of responsibility to his viewers. Read More. <p>'The most trusted man in America's fan mail was still . By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. Walter Cronkite was a great man, a great journalist, and a great reporter. Known as the "most trusted man in America," Cronkite made his mark on . 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. Advertisement "1968 is one of the most talked about years in U.S. history because of all the upheaval, and Cronkite plays a central role in that year, right out of the gate," Brinkley said. Big blonde hair. 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. Now, all . The manner in which Walter delivered those stories genuine, caring, professional established him as a trusted news anchor. It was very enjoyable reading about him. Because he did. News of Walter Cronkite's death did not come as a surprise. At that time, the evening news was a mere 15 minutes in length barely enough to deliver the days headlines. 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. Tracy Oppenheimer is a producer at Reason TV. These results came about because Walter Cronkite was a fearless brand. Fortunately, the show expanded to 30 minutes in September of 1963. Walter Jr. the only child of Walter, a dentist, and Helen, a homemaker was born on November 4, 1916, in Saint Joseph, Missouri. He inspired John Waters to grow a moustache (I think!). Erin Blakemore is a Boulder, Colorado-based journalist. The best show recs delivered to your inbox. Cronkite is famous not only for his impartiality and journalistic integrity, but the few recorded instances of emotion he expressed on air. #1 Honesty. He put forth his personal opinion, a luxury he denied himself in deference to the integrity of the news and his role. Cronkite finished fourth in best-liked, behind Harry Reasoner, who placed second, and Howard K. Smith (ABC News), who placed third. In 1981, CBSs mandatory retirement age of 65 required that Cronkite step down from his post. He did not let his political views get in the way of his reporting. Headlines now titillate stories to fuel political dogmas, often voicing opinions that bear the semblance of truth but are far from it. Without such faith, democracy cannot flourish. With relentless lobbying, I ended up with a treasure: the NASA press kit Cronkite reportedly used while covering the Apollo 9 and 10 flights. Integrity would not allow that. As much as the public may have trusted Cronkite, he didnt top all surveys. Privacy Statement 8. To do anything else would be phony. During that time, he reported on such subjects as the Kennedy assassinations, the Civil Rights . I dedicate my time to researching and raising awareness about epidemics, injustices, and other conflicts that occur in other countries. 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. That element of implicit authority, we just dont have anymore.. As a broadcaster, Cronkite built this reputation by doing something that many of todays broadcasters and media personalities refuse to dodiscount personal biases and strive to tell the simple truth in their news coverage. Cronkite also refused to report stories until they were validated. Cronkites integrity was a barrier to manipulation of the news by politicians and the public alike. 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 . 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. In fact, the Pew Project for Excellence in Journalism informs us that the News Hour is losing numbers, not gaining them: For the 2007-08 season, the number of different people watching each week was 5.5 million, down from the previous seasons 6.1 million. According to PBS research, the viewers are migrating to cable news, a fate that trusted Walter would probably be suffering today if he were still reading from the teleprompter. John F. Kennedys assassination to the United States that no one in NASA could have had alone true... Box correction Everybody knew that Walter didn & # x27 ; t get suntan. Job he perfected has largely lost its relevance Sir ) Paul McCartney and dispassionately by of... I dedicate my time to researching and raising awareness about epidemics, injustices and! Not a hint of self-promotion, no self-serving cause, no work in Service to his ego. 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