From CBS News:
Walter Cronkite, who personified television journalism for more than a generation as anchor and managing editor of the "CBS Evening News," has died. CBS vice president Linda Mason says Cronkite died at 7:42 p.m. Friday with his family by his side at his home in New York after a long illness. He was 92.
Known for his steady and straightforward delivery, his trim moustache, and his iconic sign-off line -"That’s the way it is" - Cronkite dominated the television news industry during one of the most volatile periods of American history. He broke the news of the Kennedy assassination, reported extensively on Vietnam and Civil Rights and Watergate, and seemed to be the very embodiment of TV journalism.
Yes, I remember the ancient days when we had real news on TV. I remember when we saw and heard more than 44 minutes of news from an hour long news show. I remember when reporters gave us the news rather than their opinions. I remember when reporters didn't play silly games on the news shows.
Cronkite was one of the best.
Picture of Cronkite in Vietnam from Wiki.
Yes, he was Mimi. He also held truth in high regard, and those he served...and he felt that very strongly that the news was an important service to the country.
ReplyDeleteI also miss the kind of news we got when we watched him on CBS every night. I also enjoyed his hosting the New Year's concert from Vienna after he retired. May he rest in God's peace.
ReplyDeleteThe fascinating thing about Cronkite, in contrast to today's teevee news people, is that he was rather ordinary and unassuming looking. His delivery was all business, no drama. No capped teeth and blow-dried hair, no on-air theatrics.
ReplyDeleteHe was an ordinary guy from St. Joseph, MO who took journalism and its responsibilities very seriously, and was our representative always there in the middle of things telling us about it as honestly and clearly as he could. He talked to us as adults instead of as kindergarten children or teenagers.
No raccoon eyes from the tanning studio. He did his job, and he did it well. He was a mensch.
ReplyDeleteHe was a mensch, Mimi! As one who also has served the public as a broadcast journalist, Walter Cronkite was one of my faves. He took his role of delivering a current, reasoned and accurate reflection of the events of the day seriously.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's the way it should be! May light perpetual shine upon him.
May he rest in peace and rise in Glory.
ReplyDeleteYes, Counterlight, unassuming is the word.
Would that we had more unassuming anchors today.
ReplyDeleteWalter Cronkite was fine in his time, but today he'd never make it with that countenance. Which says more about the times than Walter.
ReplyDeletePlus he was a wicked apostate Episcopalian. That would never do today...
Wade, You're right. He'd never make it today. When I watch the news, I watch Rachel Maddow or Keith Olbermann, but they insert too much of themselves into their delivery of the news, IMHO. But that's how it must be done today. You have to be a "personality", and Walter was surely not that.
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