But we connected with him because of his obvious compassion, modesty, and joyous enthusiasm. Surface. 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. Oprah Winfrey: Overcoming Adversity to Become a Master Communicator, How Zappos Used Customer Engagement to Build a $2B Brand. During a casual . 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. And so: when so many people from so many eras and walks of life agree that Walter Cronkite was TMTMAhe must have touched more than a few trust bases. The Web, which can make the cable news channels look positively Cronkitian, has only reshattered the shards. No streaming internet video, no podcasts, not even a remote control. In 1981, CBSs mandatory retirement age of 65 required that Cronkite step down from his post. Not a hint of self-promotion, no self-serving cause, no work in service to his own ego or career. The avuncular Cronkite anchored CBS Evening News for 19 years until 1981 when he retired. That move was right for Cronkite he was true to himself. Walter Cronkite and the legend of CBS News. Source: IMDB, Walter Cronkite during his time as a war correspondent during WWII. Cronkite showed passion in his work, especially when doing NASA projects. Cronkite comes to national prominence in his second or third year, when he breaks the news that John F. Kennedy has been killed in Dallas, says Ward. But it was Walter Cronkite and the team of journalists he inspired that brought the rest of us to the Moon. In his day, truth mattered above all else. Walter Cronkite was born on November 4, 1916, in Saint Joseph, Missouri. Click here to try out our award-winning content platform for free. A rocket, more than 350-feet tall, lifted the astronauts into space. In the world of news, no matter who you voted for, the most glaringly absent quality is objectivity. He never allowed his broader passion to diminish and die. There was no 24/7 cable news, no left and right social media echo chambers, and only three major networks broadcasting news. After the war, as the TV news era blossomed, Cronkite was there to become one of its key figures. Walter Cronkite Writes For His School Newspapers My dad was one of those people. Though Rather never said so publicly, CBS News insiders said he did not approve of her appointment. Send your reasons for Cronkitian distrust to slate.pressbox@gmail.com and subscribe to my untrustworthy Twitter feed. He claimed, I built my reputation on honest, straightforward reporting. Subscription Preferences He dedicated his life to reporting all types of events occurring across the globe. , In business, disruptors have existed for centuries. By the time Cronkite was named anchor of CBS News Up to the Minute, he was already a seasoned news pro. Trust is a shoddy yardstick. 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. Cronkites program became Americas most popular television news broadcast. Tracy Oppenheimer is a producer at Reason TV. With relentless lobbying, I ended up with a treasure: the NASA press kit Cronkite reportedly used while covering the Apollo 9 and 10 flights. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. Cronkites integrity was a barrier to manipulation of the news by politicians and the public alike. His unassuming manner and sincerity were two reasons why people liked and trusted him so much. To do anything else would be phony. 3.1.2023 5:35 PM, Joe Lancaster The newscasting industry, though very chaotic, needs more today like him to keep the peace and calm through the times. 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". Overall, this was was a wonderful article! Cronkite himself, would die in 2009 at the age of 92. Walters influence, trust and journalistic accomplishments he won virtually every award the industry offered set the standard for journalism for the nation and the world. "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. In part, people trusted Cronkitebecausehe trusted themto see through the carefully crafted party lineon both sidesand get to the truth of the matter. Being able to read an unbiased article, or watch an unbiased news reporter just seems non-existent in todays society. 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. | Host Steven Scheuer interviews television anchor and broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite, "the most trusted man in America," about his time as a journalist . Alas, the NewsHours Cronkite-lite approach has failed to attract much of an audience. The 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. It seemed miraculous for a Brooklyn kid that our babysitter's mom worked for Mr. Cronkite at CBS News. 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. 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. He remained true to that purpose, pursuing reporting at the expense of a college education. On the contrary, he kept that passion in check until the time was right. Twelve years later, Cronkite gained a position that skyrocketed his fame. Soon he would be named host of the Morning Show on CBS. Forty years ago, a man walked on the Moon. "Indeed, a bunch of people were running around but I got to the chair in time for the broadcast." Thats where the family lived until moving to Houston, Texas when Walter was 10-years-old. I ran down to the lobby of the CBS News Broadcast Center to escort Mr. Cronkite to a studio. Have you watched the news lately? 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. Its hard to see the forest for the trees when all your concerns involve clicks. In 1950, Cronkite finally joined CBS after numerous offers. Your ambitious agenda is filling a desperate need.". Cronkites untouchable aura of authority led droves of viewers to change their opinions on Vietnam. Cronkite first became synonymous with trust in 1972, when the Oliver Quayle and Co. poll included his name in a list of public figures to determine a trust index. Cronkite topped the rankings with 73 percent, which seemed impressive until you considered the skunks polled alongside him. If Cronkite were alive today, he would tearfully lament the political tribalism that permeates through news organizations. 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. Walter Leland Cronkite . The legendary anchorman Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. was the voice of truth for millions of Americans. "I was remembering another time. Because he did. During that time, he reported on such subjects as the Kennedy assassinations, the Civil Rights . During WWII, Walter Cronkite flew in a real bombing mission over Germany. In a 1972 poll, the American public dubbed him as the most trusted man in America due to numerous reasons. 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. 0 Why the World Trusted Walter. "President Lyndon Johnson certainly felt it. 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. Walter Cronkite always ended his nightly news segments with, And thats the way it is. We trusted him and that . So I stepped outside for a few moments for a smoke. 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. If you need to flag this entry as abusive. 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. The longtime New York City townhouse that once belonged to Walter Cronkite, otherwise known as the most trusted man in news, has quietly sold for $7.25 million, The Post has learned. During the heyday of CBS News in the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited as "the most trusted man in America" after . Well never knowand thats the way it is. Terms of Use Privacy Statement What do you think? At that time, the evening news was a mere 15 minutes in length barely enough to deliver the days headlines. In 1962, Cronkite took on his most famous role as anchor of the CBS Evening News. Cronkite finished fourth in best-liked, behind Harry Reasoner, who placed second, and Howard K. Smith (ABC News), who placed third. It isn't enough to say that he was the "most trusted man in America," as. Ample breasts. 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." Cronkite strongly influenced the politics and outcome of the Vietnam War. So how and why did Walter Cronkite become . He was 92 and had homes in New York and Martha's Vineyard, Mass. The invitation was extended the very next day and that meeting led to the Camp David accord and the Israel-Egyptian Peace Treaty. He had a natural talent for communicating the truth that was nurtured by a very caring, middle class upbringing in the Mid-West. He was an example of what an exemplary journalist should be like. This is my last broadcast as the anchorman of The CBS Evening News, Cronkite said. A 1973 poll showed Walter Cronkite to be "the most trusted man in America." . Cronkite stood out from his peers because of his commitment to truth and objectivity in journalism. If Cronkite reported it thats really the way it was. Long acrylic nails. He famously reported Report from Vietnam in 1968, where he told Americans he did not believe that the United States had a chance at succeeding in the war. Days later he made the very poignant announcement that Kennedy had died. | 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. Its the fact that hes a firmly established, mainstream, church-going, centrist, respectable person that matters.. And they'll be looking for me." While in college, he worked as a part-time journalist for the Houston newspaper. It will make you smarter and keep them honest. If so, you owe something to Walter CronkiteAmericas uncle and the most influential broadcast journalist of all time. Trust Inc. Strategies for Building Your Company's Most Valuable Asset. 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. He's being remembered as the "father of television news," as . 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. Even as a boy of seven, I recognized that he had that effect on me. He wasnt the most educated or the best-looking newsman, but he was perhaps the most diligent. Words fail to describe the magnificence of this accomplishment. News of Walter Cronkite's death did not come as a surprise. After all, true journalists worked in print and radio. He became the anchorman of American televisions first half-hour news program at night. He gave suburb news with honesty of facts. "That wasn't why I was laughing, young man," Walter said to me. Very nice article! What an amazing resume and life lived by Cronkite. But as USA Today reports, the FBI destroyed part of Cronkites file instead of preserving it. Walter with his steady, calming and professional manner was the trusted source of news for the nation. 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. 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. Cronkites enthusiasm for the U.S. space program carried throughout his journalistic career and helped Americans follow and support the program. Cronkite's Big Three Trust Factors #1 - Honesty. Cronkite's death spurs flood of words, memories. Despite his objective persona, it was clear to his viewers that Cronkite was a real person with real interests and feelings. Research in communication and psychology clearly shows that to be trusted a communicator has to be seen as knowledgeable and credible. On the contrary, he kept that passion in check until the time was right. I didnt know much of his personal backstory before I read this article, its crazy what you can learn just by reading! Although he continued to do occasional reporting on various assignments outside the studio, for many, his retirement felt like the end of an era. Mrs. Cronkite looked at me and giggled or blushed or maybe neither. June 12, 2009, 8:34 AM. 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. Why was Walter Cronkite so well respected? After he retired, Cronkite began to openly pursue causes he believed in. 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. So What? Walter covered significant events of the war, including the bombing of Germany and D-Day. Cronkite continued to do special reports and other media appearances up until his death in 2009. Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. was born Nov. 4, 1916, in . Legendary television news anchor Walter Cronkite died Friday night at the age of 92. How did Cronkite join this popularity list in the first place? Her work has appeared in publications like The Washington Post, TIME, mental_floss, Popular Science and JSTOR Daily. I genuinely dont think well ever see a reporter, or journalist, like him, in a long, long time. As a newsman, his passion was limited to his role of reporter. 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. 3.1.2023 4:21 PM, Eric Boehm Lyndon B. Johnson to state, "If I've lost . And it wasnt fluffyit was very clear. Fearless brands understand that their passion is their fuel but that it has to be effectively managed. 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. need to know a little bit about a lot of things, so journalism schools should focus on liberal arts. Yet, much as I wished it might one day be my foot that stepped out beyond this Earth, being an astronaut didn't seem as much fun as doing what Walter Cronkite was doing. . Cronkite also trusted the people to respond well to his truth-telling and to use their intelligence to evaluate his words. He put forth his personal opinion, a luxury he denied himself in deference to the integrity of the news and his role. 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. Thirteen years after my first attempt to work at CBS, I finally landed a job at the news network I was certain I'd work for. The answer is in the psychology of trust. 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. One Womans Charge Change How News is Reported. The emotion only made him seem more accessible to his audience, who felt many of the same feelings. In 1974, before the Cronkite-equals-trust clich took root, the Phillips-Sindlinger organization conducted a nationwide poll to determine viewers attitudes toward the top TV newscasters. The man who anchored . Cronkite got his start in radio, then became a correspondent for United Press. "Whew, boy, " he said, as Armstrong descended the ladder. Nick Gillespie and Tracy Oppenheimer A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. Cronkite refused to allow his personal beliefs to affect his job of reporting accurate news. A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials. "Ethics must be reintroduced to public service to restore people's faith in Government. | Betsy, his wife of forty-five years, died of cancer in 2005. "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. Big blonde hair. His story came to an end in 2009 when he passed away at the age of 92. 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