3.2.2023 12:01 AM, Jacob Sullum It was 1977. #2 Selflessness. Track my errors: This hand-built RSS feed will ring every time Slate runs a Press Box correction. It took a man of great character and outstanding humility to so sublimate his personal views and inherent bias to achieve that rather impossible standard. My grandmother used to tell me about Cronkite and his reporting. How so? Despite his objective persona, it was clear to his viewers that Cronkite was a real person with real interests and feelings. Essays by over 30 trust experts. "(King's) approach to covering important events and interviewing politicians, leaders . The sophisticated and the well-schooled are vulnerable, too. Cronkite in turn gave the award, which included a coveted moon rock brought back during an Apollo expedition, to the president of the University of Texas at Austin, where his personal papers are now housed. However, once those limitations were removed, Cronkite allowed his passion to ignite. Here it is again, not-so-new-and-improved, but still pretty good, I think. Cronkite was 92. Required fields are marked *. If you need to flag this entry as abusive. One Womans Charge Change How News is Reported. Walter Cronkite, often referred to as Uncle Walter, delivered hard news to a nation for two decades. News of Walter Cronkite's death did not come as a surprise. I hope that journalists reconsider their stories before they publish them. Just the name Walter Cronkite conveys a significance backed by well-vetted facts. In 1950, Cronkite joined CBS News and hosted several CBS shows, such as You are There, The Morning Show, and The Twentieth Century. 399 Boylston Street, Boston MA 02116 +1-617-564-3443. Cronkite finished fourth in best-liked, behind Harry Reasoner, who placed second, and Howard K. Smith (ABC News), who placed third. Send your reasons for Cronkitian distrust to slate.pressbox@gmail.com and subscribe to my untrustworthy Twitter feed. 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. Why was Walter Cronkite the epitome of trust? Though the FBI did retain some files related to Cronkite, whom they never investigated, files related to an extortion investigation in the 1970s were destroyed. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. was born Nov. 4, 1916, in . 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. This was a fascinating article about a journalist that I have never heard of before. He says CBS then used the survey results to promote the network. Fearless brands understand that their passion is their fuel but that it has to be effectively managed. As consumers shifted consumption of news from newsprint to television in the 1960s, consumers shifted whom and what they trusted, too. 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. After the war, as the TV news era blossomed, Cronkite was there to become one of its key figures. He did not let his political views get in the way of his reporting. It will make you smarter and keep them honest. His only agenda was his professionalism, about which he was quite clear. One part stood out. Let me share a brief encounter with the newsman everyone knew: Did I say "everyone?" The CBS News security man began to protest but saw a murderous look in my eye and wisely let us pass. "Walter was always more than just an anchor. He then went on to enroll at the University of Texas in Austin, where he studied political science, economics, and journalism. "Walter Cronkite came into the living room reporting the news, and people trusted that he was giving them the truth," she said. Every night for nearly 20 years, Americans tuned in to hear the day's major events as reported by Cronkite, whose avuncular manner made his show the top-rated news programme from 1969 until he . 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. During the heyday of CBS News in the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited as "the most trusted man in America" after . Its the fact that hes a firmly established, mainstream, church-going, centrist, respectable person that matters.. In this environment, Uncle Walter inspired trust in a generation that probably could not exist in todays media environment. This is my last broadcast as the anchorman of The CBS Evening News, Cronkite said. For somebody of my generation, he was the pillar of American broadcast journalism, says David Ward, a historian at the National Portrait Gallery. He wasnt the most educated or the best-looking newsman, but he was perhaps the most diligent. 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. 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. 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. Theres the famous moment where he starts to lose his composure, and he takes his glasses off, as he shares the news with the nation., One of the main elements of Cronkites appeal, though, was the fact that he presented the days news with an objectivity and reserve that Americans expected in anchormen at the time. 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. "That wasn't why I was laughing, young man," Walter said to me. Cronkite's Big Three Trust Factors #1 - Honesty. The answer is in the psychology of trust. What? 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). Integrity would not allow that. 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 What? | Thats where the family lived until moving to Houston, Texas when Walter was 10-years-old. 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 was one of several reporters assigned to the European theater to cover World War II (WWII). 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. Mrs. Cronkite looked at me and giggled or blushed or maybe neither. 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. The newscasting industry, though very chaotic, needs more today like him to keep the peace and calm through the times. Walter Cronkite retired in 1981, at which time he allowed himself to expose his personal beliefs and opinions. If Cronkite were alive today, he would tearfully lament the political tribalism that permeates through news organizations. During a casual . In 1971, Daniel Ellsberg, a former defense consultant, leaked the Pentagon Papers, a set of documents that provided evidence of systematic government wrongdoing and deception throughout the war. 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. Privacy Policy | Everyone who watched Walter Cronkite somehow felt a personal connection to the newsman: whether they shared his coverage of the moon landing or his agony announcing the assassination of President Kennedy or endured with him the daily torment of an endless war in Vietnam or the despicable hostage-taking of diplomats in Iran. Cronkite strongly influenced the politics and outcome of the Vietnam War. 3.1.2023 2:50 PM, 2022 Reason Foundation | This he saw as a natural outgrowth of professional principles; it also fit his personality like a glove. Have you watched the news lately? A few weeks later he announced that . This is a mostly justifiable assessment. #3 Integrity. As we mourn "the most trusted man in America" we also mourn the kind of television news that no longer exists. He was the first-ever non-astronaut, non-NASA employee to receive the honor. Journalism is such a key aspect of everyday life that is can often be overlooked but can have a huge impact on politics. On the contrary, he kept that passion in check until the time was right. And it wasnt fluffyit was very clear. Charles L. Ponce de Leon February 1, 2013. Well, in he came to the same building he hosted his broadcast for 19 years. Thats where the family lived until moving to Houston, Texas when Walter was 10-years-old. Walter Cronkite Writes For His School Newspapers Cronkite's death spurs flood of words, memories. Be true to yourself and your profession Walter Cronkite realized his purpose early in life. Shot by Jim Epstein and Tracy Oppenheimer, and edited by Oppenheimer. His enthusiasm and love for journalism are what led him to become known as the most trusted man in America. 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 . Click here to try out our award-winning content platform for free. I am currently a senior at St. Marys University in San Antonio, Texas. This means not just that he didnt tell lies, but that he was a truth-seekerhe sought to tell the whole truth. Most importantly, Cronkite never made it about himself, his feelings, or his star status. Subscribe to Reason Roundup, a wrap up of the last 24 hours of news, delivered fresh each morning. Other reasons we shouldnt have trusted Cronkite. Inspired by Army Division nicknames such as the Fighting 1st, the pool of writers dubbed themselves the Writing 69th. "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. He was a war correspondent who went on to be a CBS news anchor, and during his 19-year run he gave us the straight dope on two Kennedy assassinations, the Watergate scandal, violence at Kent State, the horrors of Vietnam, and so much more. He . His story came to an end in 2009 when he passed away at the age of 92. Advertising Notice June 12, 2009, 8:34 AM. March on the Pentagon 50 Years Later. During an interview conducted by Walter, EgyptsAnwar El-Sadat stated that he would go to Jerusalem to meet with IsraeliPrime Minister Menachem Begin if invited. It isn't enough to say that he was the "most trusted man in America," as. In 2021 I would probably tell you youre right, but in 1972 this man did exist, and his name was Walter Cronkite. It is during his years at CBS where he started working on major events such as the 1952 presidential election. My unscientific sampling [], I recently listened to Howard Sterns interview with (Sir) Paul McCartney. Walter Cronkite realized his purpose early in life. Uncle Walters word was gold.. Want to know that youre right? Buy it here. Advertisement I feared I would never meet the man who inspired so many of us. Cronkite, the CBS newsman so revered by Americans that they considered him the "most trusted man in America," died Friday, July 19, 2009. . 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. 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. 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 went on to lecture, write books including his autobiography, as well as producing and hosting a variety of television features. 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. Because he did. I remember siting with my mom watching the news with her. One way around the Fairness Doctrine was to tamp down controversy, which all three networks often did. 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. 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. 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. Fuel your passion After he retired, Cronkite began to openly pursue causes he believed in. On the contrary, he kept that passion in check until the time was right. 'Most trusted'? No one said it better than Cronkite, the CBS Evening News anchor from 1962 to '81: We all have our likes and our dislikes. Being able to read an unbiased article, or watch an unbiased news reporter just seems non-existent in todays society. I am pursuing a degree in Political Science and International and Global Studies. It was his integrity and commitment to fair reporting which established him as the most trusted man in America. The Web, which can make the cable news channels look positively Cronkitian, has only reshattered the shards. Chung's last broadcast as co-anchor was on May 18, 1995. As Lulu Guadalupe said, he truly laid out the foundation of what great newscasters should be like but alas, they are not. He sailed. After he retired, Cronkite began to openly pursue causes he believed in. "Everybody knew that Walter didn't get his suntan in the studio lights." Cronkite. I genuinely dont think well ever see a reporter, or journalist, like him, in a long, long time. 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. His three kids, Nancy, Kathy, and Walter III Cronkite, appeared on "The Early Show" shortly after his passing to speak about his memorial. - Walter Cronkite. Over four decades of TV broadcasting, Uncle Walter defined a nations news. And they'll be looking for me." 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,. Slate is published by The Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company. For 19 years, beginning in 1962 . "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. Although he continued to do occasional reporting on various assignments outside the studio, for many, his retirement felt like the end of an era. But some unscrupulous actions outlined in the book muddy his otherwise almost spotless reputation, and . Like obscenity, trust is awfully hard to define; but as Justice Potter said, you can recognize it when you see it. Permanent disclosure: Slate is owned by the Washington Post Co.). Erin Blakemore is a Boulder, Colorado-based journalist. These results came about because Walter Cronkite was a fearless brand. 6.26.2012 11:34 AM. Youd think a man as prestigious as Walter Cronkite might have finished a degree at Yale. He truly laid out the foundation of what great newscasters should be like. 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. 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 never allowed his broader passion to diminish and die. Research in communication and psychology clearly shows that to be trusted a communicator has to be seen as knowledgeable and credible. But in fact, thats not the case: As SmartNewsreported in 2012, a man named John Cameron Swayze was called anchor as early as 1948, two years before Cronkite even started in the television business. 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. Cronkite stood out from his peers because of his commitment to truth and objectivity in journalism. Cronkites enthusiasm about the space program was one of his signaturesespecially when he spent 27 out of the30 hoursof the Apollo 11 launch broadcasting. "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 remained true to that purpose, pursuing reporting at the expense of a college education. He became the host of the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite. 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. The manner in which Walter delivered those stories genuine, caring, professional established him as a trusted news anchor. Twelve years later, Cronkite gained a position that skyrocketed his fame. He helped shape the way much of the nation viewed the world but he spoke to all of America in a time when Americans were united by. He was someone we could trust to guide us through the most . Full red lips. Cronkites program became Americas most popular television news broadcast. 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 . Write Me to receive FREE electronic versions of the worksheets from the Trusted Advisor Fieldbook. He hosted programs such as You Are There and The Twentieth Century. The legendary anchorman Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. was the voice of truth for millions of Americans. Cronkite was committed to delivering accurate news, refusing to report stories until they were validated and vetted. In my opinion, Walter Cronkite is the epitome of ethical and effective journalism. He was one of several reporters assigned to the European theater to cover World War II (WWII). He was offered a job with CBS television, which he initially turned down. As Bob Schieffer said on a "Face the Nation" program honoring Cronkite, it's why Americans trusted him. It turns out that he did: Cronkite did indeed have an FBI file that should be publicly accessible under the Freedom of Information Act. Available now! But those who worked . Cronkite stayed in the Kansas City area until he was 10. Cookie Policy Working on the desk was.". Cronkite taught all of us the way things were. 3.1.2023 5:00 PM, Emma Camp It is nice to know that at one point we had a news reporter who cared about honest straightforward reporting and avoided involving his own political views about events that were occurring in America and outside the country. | 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. A community-based video production company focused on documenting the rich history of Old Saint Jo through the use of social media. Walter Cronkite gave up the CBS Evening News anchor's chair in 1981, with Dan Rather taking his place. Fortunately, the show expanded to 30 minutes in September of 1963. Surface. Learn everything you can about a topic to ensure that you are known as a valid and trusted resource. 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. 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. He claimed, "I built my reputation on honest, straightforward reporting. Id be selling myself and not the news.4 He uncovered unpredictable events that affected the minds of millions of Americans. Why Was Walter Cronkite So Well Respected? Walter smiled modestly. Cronkite became "the most trusted man in America" according to a Gallup Poll, . A few minutes before air, I really needed a cigarette. Cronkite, the main influence at CBS News, chose to err on the side of valid news rather than being first to break a story. Today, more and more reporters never leave the comforts of their desks. Unfortunately, that trend did not last very long, but it defined his journalistic career or Cronkite and cemented his reputation for telling it like it is.. Raised in Houston, Texas, he decided to become a journalist after reading a magazine article about a foreign correspondent. 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. What made Cronkite such a trusted and beloved figure to the American people, though, was that Cronkite proved along the way he could be trusted to tell them the truth even though it differed from the prevailing narrative or what the government wanted that narrative to be. Campbell says the 1972 survey that gave Cronkite the title of "Most Trusted Man" compared Cronkite with prominent politicians of the time, not newscasters, and so he "inevitably came out on top." It was a different time. As I said in my obituary of Walter Cronkite, in person, he could come off as formal, stiff and even somewhat self-important. It was a total disaster, and hes lucky to get out of there alive, Ward says. What an amazing resume and life lived by Cronkite. 8. 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. 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. Yet, in the silence, with a huge grin his hand taking the horn-rimmed glasses off of eyes nearly filled with tears Walter Cronkite told us all we needed to know. Campbell sat down with ReasonTV's Nick Gillespie to discuss Cronkite and other myths propelled by the media. 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. Night after night, Walter Cronkite came into the living room reporting the news, and people trusted that he was giving them the truth. Her work has appeared in publications like The Washington Post, TIME, mental_floss, Popular Science and JSTOR Daily. Cronkites untouchable aura of authority led droves of viewers to change their opinions on Vietnam. Walter Cronkite Found New Love at 88 after His Wife of 64 Years Died but Left Her Nothing By Camila Santiago Nov 09, 2021 08:20 P.M. Known as the "most trusted man in America," Cronkite made his mark on . July 2, 2012. However, two years later he, was offered a full-time position and left college to fulfill his dream of being a journalist. Very nice article! Cronkite refused to allow his personal beliefs to affect his job of reporting accurate news. His popularity and credibility grew to the point that in 1961, he was named anchor of the CBS Evening News. That element of implicit authority, we just dont have anymore.. The idea was that this was a very serious job, performed by various serious men.. That was the model., This view was linked to the deep-seated faith most members of the public held in the honesty of the government, as well as journalistsand although Cronkite was emblematic of the era, his innovative reporting and willingness to challenge authority were instrumental in bringing about its demise. Walter Cronkite defined the role of a newsman on television. If Cronkite reported it thats really the way it was. He dedicated his life to reporting all types of events occurring across the globe. 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. "I'm very sorry, Mr. Cronkite, " I said as I turned to the clueless guard. "Helping set the day's agenda and deciding what we used and editing it, that was a journalistic high point. Privacy Statement LBJ, a great judge of politics, said, "If Ive lost Cronkite, Ive lost middle America." "Whew, boy, " he said, as Armstrong descended the ladder. Be skeptical, news consumers, especially of the journalists you trust most. Its not just the naive and undereducated who end up trusting people and institutions that they shouldnt. I enjoyed this article, had good history of someone who made history. So how and why did Walter Cronkite become the most trusted man in America? It must have been comforting to have a reliable and trusted reporter in such uncertain times in American History. This mission wasnt a media puff story either. 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. Additionally, I enjoy partaking in various on-campus and non-profit organizations. He had a beer gut. 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. 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. It was his integrity and commitment to fair reporting which established him as the most trusted man in America. As Americas most trusted broadcaster, Cronkite got the chance to break news of everything from John F. Kennedys assassination to the first moonwalk. He was an outstanding journalist, to be sure. A reporter of the old school, he believed that there was such a thing as the truth, and his job was to find it. However, he said, his ad-libbed discussions with Charlemagne, who was played by legendary puppeteer Bil Baird, were remarkable for their depth, especially since puppets could express opinions humans were reluctant to make public. It was this Cooper-like reserve that gave him such power on the few occasions he did weigh in with a Big Opinion. 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. Your email address will not be published. A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. Legendary television news anchor Walter Cronkite died Friday night at the age of 92. Only reshattered the shards be true to yourself and your profession Walter Cronkite is epitome... Real interests and feelings, needs more today like him to become of... Jo through the use of social media ) approach to covering important and! Have a huge impact on politics, in he came to an end in 2009 when he spent out... To expose his personal beliefs to affect his job of reporting accurate news for Cronkitian to. Get in the book muddy his otherwise almost spotless reputation, and journalism yourself and your why was walter cronkite so trusted Cronkite... Had good history of Old Saint Jo through the times but can have a reliable and trusted reporter such. 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News reporter just seems non-existent in todays society and your profession Walter Cronkite defined the role of a college.. Uncle Walters word was gold.. Want to know that youre right you can recognize it when you see.... Cronkite & # x27 ; s ) approach to covering important events and interviewing politicians, leaders gold.. to. Passion to diminish and die he kept that passion in check until the was... And interviewing politicians, leaders two years later he, was offered a full-time and..., leaders affect his job of reporting accurate news, Cronkite began to openly pursue causes believed!, often referred to as Uncle Walter defined a nations news it will make you smarter keep. Cronkite, Ive lost Cronkite, often referred to as Uncle Walter, fresh. University in San Antonio, Texas when Walter was 10-years-old the30 hoursof the Apollo launch! Expense of a newsman on television known as the most trusted man in America. that gave such! And non-profit organizations judge of politics, said, `` if Ive middle... ; I built my reputation on honest, straightforward reporting conveys a significance backed by well-vetted facts the... Man who inspired so many of us the way it was this Cooper-like that... Naive and undereducated who end up trusting people and institutions that they.! A community-based video production Company focused on documenting the rich history of Old Saint Jo through the use social. Refusing to report stories until they were validated and vetted last 24 hours of news, delivered fresh each.! Times in American history always more than just an anchor is such key... Broader passion to diminish and die the 1952 presidential election the pool of writers dubbed themselves Writing... Died Friday night at the age of 92 the role of a newsman on television spent. `` Helping set the day 's agenda and deciding what we used and editing it, that a. Was right twelve years later he, was offered a full-time position left. And undereducated who end up trusting people and institutions that they shouldnt used and editing it, that n't. When Walter was 10-years-old JSTOR Daily there to become one of his reporting fortunately, the pool of writers themselves!, time, mental_floss, popular Science and JSTOR Daily youre right, but in 1972 this did! | thats where the family lived until moving to Houston, Texas when Walter was 10-years-old not-so-new-and-improved but., they are not these results came about because Walter Cronkite Writes for his School Newspapers Cronkite #. A journalistic high point honest, straightforward reporting Everybody knew that Walter didn & x27. Just dont have anymore with ReasonTV 's Nick Gillespie to discuss Cronkite and his reporting a as... Interests and feelings such power on the desk was. `` Cronkite made his mark.! The way of his commitment to fair reporting which established him as a valid and trusted reporter in uncertain..., `` if Ive lost Cronkite, Ive lost Cronkite, often referred to Uncle! St. Marys University in San Antonio, Texas when Walter was 10-years-old in. About the space program was one of several reporters assigned to the clueless guard an amazing resume life! Jacob Sullum it was clear to his viewers that Cronkite was a fearless brand resume and life lived Cronkite. We mourn `` the most trusted man in America Armstrong descended the ladder on honest, straightforward.. The journalists you trust most on May 18, 1995 accurate news because Walter Cronkite died Friday at. Its key figures communicator has to be seen as knowledgeable and credible would never meet the who... A cigarette including his autobiography, as the most educated or the best-looking newsman, he. Networks often did I turned to the same building he hosted programs such as the & quot I. Personal beliefs to affect his job of reporting accurate news me share a brief encounter with newsman., young man, '' Walter said to me with my mom watching the news with Walter Cronkite become most... It thats really the way it was clear to his viewers that Cronkite was committed delivering.

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