The legendary Walter Cronkite passed away at the age of 92 on Friday. According to CBS, he passed with his family at his bedside after struggling with a long illness.
Cronkite was considered the man who "personified journalism for more than a generation as anchor and managing editor for CBS News." His legacy spanned almost the entire 20th century. He covered topics from World War II to the launch of Apollo XI. He broke the news about John F. Kennedy's assassination. He had the people's attention, but more importantly, he had the people's trust.
"Cronkite was the steadying force for a time of national sorrow." A 1972 poll regarded him as the "most trusted man in America." He gave journalists a good name.
I figured out about his death from one of the big screen televisions in the Terp Zone. CNN was doing coverage about his legacy and his work. They also had other journalists talking about his legacy and their own personal feelings of his work.
Could this not have come at a more coincidental time? We are all here for a three week journalims program and one of the most influential journalists dies in our first week. It feel like this means something. Nevertheless, his legacy will not be forgotten. And we as the aspiring journalists of the future, need to carry it out and perform with the passion and consistency as Cronkite did.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
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Excellent post, Marcus. It is important that we maintain his journalistic integrity well into the future.
ReplyDeleteI would have never thought about that when considering his time of death.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to what Marcus said I think that Walter Cronkite created the type of journalism we have today. The format of morning newscasts with friendly familiar faces as well as the headline evening news.
In my opinion I think that Cronkite was revolutionary in journalism because he made it so much more personable, as if you knew him because the viewers saw him so frequently.
Currently we don't have one hegemonic anchorman, does anyone think that we could return to that format again considering that most publications and organizations are shrinking?
I found out Walter Cronkite died through my mother, who also told me it was such a coincidence that this happened while I'm taking a journalism class.
ReplyDeleteMy mother went on saying how she remembers watching Cronkite in the evenings and how he was truly an historic figure in media.
I agree with Marcus in the fact that we must carry on his type of legacy.