Walter Cronkite 1916 - 2009Walter Cronkite died today. He was 92. His death makes me sad for two reasons. First, because I grew up with his news broadcasts on television. I listened to him report the first moon walk. I listened to his views on Vietnam. I listened to him when he interviewed Anwar Sadat. He was an institution in the American media and we trusted his calm and straightforward reportage because we knew he was unafraid to tell the truth. Cronkite never had to borow power from brown nosing politicians. Cronkite wielded real power and used it to make America better instead of using it to tear it down.
The other reason I'm sad is because he stands in stark contrast against the loss of real reporters in the mainstream media. Instead of a Cronkite or a Brinkley or a Reasoner we are now inflicted (infected?) with such "giants" as an Olbermann or a Couric or a Gibson. When Cronkite spoke, we could depend on what he said was what we needed to know - what was, in fact, news.
Now, not so much.
Rest in Peace Walter Cronkite. You will be missed.
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8 comments:
The MSM needs to follow his legacy of "reporting" and not "commenting".
That's okay. We here in the blogosphere will continue on the legacy of ethical journalism.
Sleep well, Walter!
what a cooool site. Very informative, honest and with a light touch of humor. Excellent.
~Silver
Reflections
blackandgoldfan: Well, of course I'm into commenting rather than reporting but I wish news people could understand the difference. They can't tell the difference between someone like Limbaugh, who is an entertainer and Cronkite, who was a reporter. It's no wonder the newspapers and TV news folks are losing the battle.
Silver Reflections: Thanks for your kind words. Your websites are full of beauty.
Euripides: I, too, enjoy commenting rather than reporting, but you're right...the MSM needs to understand the difference and quit interjecting personal views into their work. If they want to spout off about their personal opinions, let them do what we smart gun-clingers do: get a blog!!! Have a great weekend!
Water Cronkite put his bias to the side and did actual fair news. He didn't give liberals a pass just because they were on the same side as he was. I find it odd that so many of the most fair minded in media have died suddenly so recently. I am not naming names as to annoy the powers that be but the words "meet the press" come to mind.
Euripides,
I really like your blog. My (38yo) son and his family live in Phoenix and, like his dad, is also afflicted with right wing extremism. You should meet him; his beloved is an ASU grad and recovering liberal.
Walter, I grew up with also, and while he was, head and shoulders, way better than most reporters (many posers) today I strongly disagreed with him on Vietnam. I was on the ground there during Tet 1968, which was Walter's tipping point on the war. We kicked their butts big time.
Please go here and read:
http://neoneocon.com/2009/07/19/cronkite-and-vietnam-part-ii/
Walter was the best in the business, but like all of us, not without faults.
Keep up the good work.
galensmark:
Thank you for the kind words and welcome to my blog. Walter Cronkite wasn't perfect and wielded his power of influence, as you noted, in his opinion about Vietnam. But compared with the media nincompoops that pass themselves off as news anchors today, he was a saint.
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