A pioneer broadcast journalist who began his distinguished career as a wire service reporter, Cronkite was a longtime champion of journalism values who was often referred to as the most trusted man in America.
By the mid-1950s more than half the nation's living rooms have a TV set, which serves as a kind of national mirror. It reflects a populace that is white, Christian, and middle-class. It has no accent. It defines normal. It defines America.
When Walter Cronkite ends his CBS newscast with his rock-solid assertion, 'And that's the way it is,' it's a sweet finish to his nightly suppertime slice of reality. Facts, unseasoned and served deadpan. (Gladstone, pg. 103)
Watch the interview and then answer these questions:
1) What event that Walter Cronkite reported do you think was the most significant? Why?
2) After listening to 'Uncle Walt' why do you think America found him so trustworthy?
3) How has reporting changed since the 'Golden Age of Objectivity?'
4) Do you think there will ever be a reporter as trusted as Walter Cronkite? If so who? If not why?
5) Cronkite's famous tagline: 'and that's the way it is' was legendary. If you were a national news anchor what would your tagline be? Explain.
No comments:
Post a Comment