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. 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. As Bob Schieffer said on a "Face the Nation" program honoring Cronkite, it's why Americans trusted him. 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. Cronkite taught all of us the way things were. He became the host of the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite. Lyndon B. Johnson to state, "If I've lost . | No cable news. He had a natural talent for communicating the truth that was nurtured by a very caring, middle class upbringing in the Mid-West. 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. He was someone we could trust to guide us through the most . This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. 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. Walter Jr. the only child of Walter, a dentist, and Helen, a homemaker was born on November 4, 1916, in Saint Joseph, Missouri. The legendary CBS anchorman was the most trusted man in America. 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. Walter Leland Cronkite . 8. I think he was so trusted because he exhibited a sense of purpose and compassion, night after night. 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. Walter was very lucky, because soon after moving, he read an article in. He kept his own counsel; until and unless he felt there was no alternative but to share it. 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. 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. His funeral was held Thursday in New York. In moments that shocked the country, Cronkite was able to deliver hard news with diligence. 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. The CBS anchor is remembered as a media giant who gruffly championed hard-hitting journalism. Shot by Jim Epstein and Tracy Oppenheimer, and edited by Oppenheimer. Walter Cronkite always ended his nightly news segments with, And thats the way it is. The legendary anchorman Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. was the voice of truth for millions of Americans. 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. 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. Like Cronkite, integrity and honesty are at the core of Media Showers approach to communication. He says CBS then used the survey results to promote the network. My grandmother used to tell me about Cronkite and his reporting. He wasn't the most educated or the best-looking newsman, but he was perhaps the most diligent. Known as the "most trusted man in America," Cronkite made his mark on . Id be selling myself and not the news.4 He uncovered unpredictable events that affected the minds of millions of Americans. 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. Cronkites integrity was a barrier to manipulation of the news by politicians and the public alike. He consoled Americans when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. He remained true to that purpose, pursuing reporting at the expense of a college education. For more than a month, his close friends and family made it clear the former CBS News anchorman was gravely ill and would not recover. A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. Slate is published by The Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company. And every article, blog or TV clip mentions how Walter Cronkite was so trusted. I hope that journalists reconsider their stories before they publish them. Night after night, Walter Cronkite came into the living room reporting the news, and people trusted that he was giving them the truth. 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. LBJ, a great judge of politics, said, "If Ive lost Cronkite, Ive lost middle America." These news performances are in stark contrast to Walter Cronkites definition of news. On the contrary, he kept that passion in check until the time was right. If Cronkite were alive today, he would tearfully lament the political tribalism that permeates through news organizations. 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. His only agenda was his professionalism, about which he was quite clear. 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. At that time, the evening news was a mere 15 minutes in length barely enough to deliver the days headlines. A reporter of the old school, he believed that there was such a thing as the truth, and his job was to find it. As the war raged on. 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. He covered the 1952 presidential elections, and he helped introduce The Beatles to the United States. "He goes to Vietnam. 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. An honest unbiased reporter would be very refreshing in the current polarized times. For somebody of my generation, he was the pillar of American broadcast journalism, says David Ward, a historian at the National Portrait Gallery. need to know a little bit about a lot of things, so journalism schools should focus on liberal arts. 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. Required fields are marked *. 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. Even as a boy of seven, I recognized that he had that effect on me. In 2005, Cronkite suffered a great loss when his wife Betsy died of cancer. "Walter Cronkite came into the living room reporting the news, and people trusted that he was giving them the truth," she said. Riding the Shark Conquering Fear in Selling. 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. Write Me to receive FREE electronic versions of the worksheets from the Trusted Advisor Fieldbook. 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. His commentary even impacted then U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson when he told his staff, If Ive lost Cronkite, Ive lost Middle America.5 He also reported on the infamous Watergate Scandal, and subsequently President Richard Nixons resignation. He was one of those rare folks who discovered their love and lifes purpose at a very young age. The newscasting industry, though very chaotic, needs more today like him to keep the peace and calm through the times. Scroll down for downloadable versions and subscribe to ReasonTV's YouTube Channel to receive automatic updates when new stories go live. 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. "(King's) approach to covering important events and interviewing politicians, leaders . 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. Buy it here. 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. Walter Cronkite was the embodiment of true journalism factual, genuine, fair and accurate reporting. Walter wanted the public to get detailed stories so at the end of the first broadcast, he encouraged viewers to check their local newspapers for the full stories. Walter Cronkite, former CBS anchor known as "Uncle Walter," has died. I also didnt know that he had traveled to Vietnam to report on the war, I think that was very brave of him. How so? Walter Cronkite Was The "Most Trusted Man In America", But I Could Never Watch His Program Once I Moved To Johannesburg. Campbell sat down with ReasonTV's Nick Gillespie to discuss Cronkite and other myths propelled by the media. 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? He inspired John Waters to grow a moustache (I think!). Indeed, his modesty and his dedication were the reasons his wide audience liked him so much and trusted him. Cronkite himself, would die in 2009 at the age of 92. 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. It was a different time. 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 must have been comforting to have a reliable and trusted reporter in such uncertain times in American History. Cronkite got his start in radio, then became a correspondent for United Press. Thats where the family lived until moving to Houston, Texas when Walter was 10-years-old. In 1981, CBSs mandatory retirement age of 65 required that Cronkite step down from his post. Cronkite won the best-known category, but John Chancellor took the honors for best-liked and most-watched TV newsperson. Subscribe to Reason Roundup, a wrap up of the last 24 hours of news, delivered fresh each morning. 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". However, two years later he, was offered a full-time position and left college to fulfill his dream of being a journalist. 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. Cronkite is laughing now: "So, I tried to explain but the guard wouldn't budge. The security guard didn't fully believe him, but finally let Walter Cronkite in. 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. "Walter was always more than just an anchor. Advertising Notice | READ MORE. 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. 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 important issues of the day; a voice of certainty in an uncertain world," President Obama. 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? Its not just the naive and undereducated who end up trusting people and institutions that they shouldnt. Terms of Use Walter Cronkite was a great man, a great journalist, and a great reporter. Walter Cronkite, the CBS newsman so revered by Americans that they considered him the "most trusted man in America," died today. 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. It seemed miraculous for a Brooklyn kid that our babysitter's mom worked for Mr. Cronkite at CBS News. "Indeed, a bunch of people were running around but I got to the chair in time for the broadcast." After he retired, Cronkite began to openly pursue causes he believed in. I liked reporting as well. Hewas always the responsible father figure. And it wasnt fluffyit was very clear. My unscientific sampling [], I recently listened to Howard Sterns interview with (Sir) Paul McCartney. It's chockablock with how-to's, practical tips and successful trust-building ideas. A key to being a fearless brand is having conviction of self. If You Think Im a Joke the Jokes On You! That move was right for Cronkite he was true to himself. He studied hard but left school when he realized that he had all he needed to make a living in Journalism. Learn everything you can about a topic to ensure that you are known as a valid and trusted resource. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I apologized again as we walked through the hallways and studio he knew so well. 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. Available now! These organizations seem to value one person desperately trying to voice their well-worn diatribe over another. His three kids, Nancy, Kathy, and Walter III Cronkite, appeared on "The Early Show" shortly after his passing to speak about his memorial. My dad was one of those people. 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.. 7. 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. But when we're doing news, it is our duty to be sure that we do not permit our prejudices to show. 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. He did not let his political views get in the way of his reporting. 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. A march on the Pentagon set in a motion events that would transform America. In 1950, Cronkite joined CBS News and hosted several CBS shows, such as You are There, The Morning Show, and The Twentieth Century. | READ MORE. 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. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. Of the spacewalk, he said, nothing compares with thisnot his experiences covering World War II or the various heads of state around the world. Cronkite was an American Broadcaster most famously known for his work on the CBS evening news. Fuel your passion After he retired, Cronkite began to openly pursue causes he believed in. He was one of several reporters assigned to the European theater to cover World War II (WWII). What were they? After the war, as the TV news era blossomed, Cronkite was there to become one of its key figures. I enjoyed this article, had good history of someone who made history. Why was Walter Cronkite the epitome of trust? He's being remembered as the "father of television news," as . Cronkites enthusiasm about the space program was one of his signaturesespecially when he spent 27 out of the30 hoursof the Apollo 11 launch broadcasting. 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. He then moved to Houston Texas where he lived out his childhood. It isn't enough to say that he was the "most trusted man in America," as. The most frequent comment, expressed in several ways, was that Cronkite was honest. The most frequent comment, expressed in several ways, was that Cronkite was honest. Walter Cronkite Writes For His School Newspapers As we mourn "the most trusted man in America" we also mourn the kind of television news that no longer exists. Cronkite made a bold decision to step out of his familiar role as impartial anchor and to express views that he said were "speculative, personal, subjective." Yet he was speaking for more than. | Walter had that effect on people." Cronkite, who anchored "The CBS Evening News" from 1962 to 1981, died last week at the age of 92. The award, which is named for the late CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite, honors leading figures in journalism. Oprah Winfrey: Overcoming Adversity to Become a Master Communicator, How Zappos Used Customer Engagement to Build a $2B Brand. Walter Cronkite was at the center of a fascinating moment in the history of American mass media, and the television news that he came to embody was fleeting and highly unusualan attempt to produce serious journalism in a medium associated with escapism. Cronkite also witnessed D-day from above, covered Operation Market after landing by paraglider with paratroopers, and witnessed the Battle of the Bulge. 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Retirement age of 65 required that Cronkite was the voice of truth for millions of Americans made.