Raised in Houston, Texas, he decided to become a journalist after reading a magazine article about a foreign correspondent. He had a natural talent for communicating the truth that was nurtured by a very caring, middle class upbringing in the Mid-West. Start spreading the news: The townhouse that formerly belonged to the late CBS anchor Walter Cronkite will hit the market for $7.7 million. And this security guard just will not let me back into the building." "President Lyndon Johnson certainly felt it. He began his career with a commitment to journalism as well. Charlemagne would be short-lived (Baird would go on to produce The Sound of Musics Lonely Goatherd sceneand other legendary puppet shows), but Cronkite was notand eventually he branched out into editorial work like his lion friend. "My dad was one of those people. Terms of Use These results came about because Walter Cronkite was a fearless brand. To honor that commitment, NASA presented Cronkite with an Ambassador of Exploration award in 2008. Overall, this was was a wonderful article! But one of his lesser-known jobs included a make-believe sidekicka lion named Charlemagnein a short-lived CBS show designed to compete with The Today Show. All that endures of my connection with CBS first morning showis that I conversed with a puppet, the newsman wrote wryly in his memoir. No streaming internet video, no podcasts, not even a remote control. Quite simply, people trusted what they used, not vice versa, Monck and Hanley write. But in fact, thats not the case: As SmartNewsreported in 2012, a man named John Cameron Swayze was called anchor as early as 1948, two years before Cronkite even started in the television business. Everyone who watched Walter Cronkite somehow felt a personal connection to the newsman: whether they shared his coverage of the moon landing or his agony announcing the assassination of President Kennedy or endured with him the daily torment of an endless war in Vietnam or the despicable hostage-taking of diplomats in Iran. As Lulu Guadalupe said, he truly laid out the foundation of what great newscasters should be like but alas, they are not. I doubt it. Today, the job he perfected has largely lost its relevance. It was his integrity and commitment to fair reporting which established him as the most trusted man in America. He died on July 17, 2009, at age 92. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. In 1971, Daniel Ellsberg, a former defense consultant, leaked the Pentagon Papers, a set of documents that provided evidence of systematic government wrongdoing and deception throughout the war. As Bob Schieffer said on a "Face the Nation" program honoring Cronkite, it's why Americans trusted him. He had a beer gut. Cronkite showed passion in his work, especially when doing NASA projects. A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. Walter smiled modestly. 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. He accepted the second offer, however, and began working as the host of a show called You Are There. He had no truck with deconstructionists who believe its all subjective, he was a midwest pragmatist of the William James school. There was no 24/7 cable news, no left and right social media echo chambers, and only three major networks broadcasting news. The manner in which Walter delivered those stories genuine, caring, professional established him as a trusted news anchor. Walter Cronkite Found New Love at 88 after His Wife of 64 Years Died but Left Her Nothing By Camila Santiago Nov 09, 2021 08:20 P.M. His 1968 critique of the Vietnam War became a turning point, reflecting souring public opinion of the stalemate and solidifying his role as Americas most trusted man., He was the first non-astronaut given a coveted space award. Fuel your passion After he retired, Cronkite began to openly pursue causes he believed in. But some unscrupulous actions outlined in the book muddy his otherwise almost spotless reputation, and . Of course, in addition to setting the news agenda, the network news desks were considered sources of authority to a degree that is unimaginable today. Cronkite genuinely believed journalists could and must be "objective." The Most Trusted. Have you watched the news lately? In a world saturated with reality TV and tell-all blogs, you have to look harder to see itthat sense of self-reserve, tough but with a soft centerthat used to be middle Americas ideal self-image. The answer is in the psychology of trust. Then he exclaimed, "Armstrong is on the moon -- Neil Armstrong, 38-year-old American, standing on the surface of the moon." It was a total disaster, and hes lucky to get out of there alive, Ward says. After all, true journalists worked in print and radio. The average senator scored 67 percent in the survey, and President Richard Nixoneasily the least trustworthy animal ever to walk on two legsreceived 57 percent, as did Hubert Humphrey. This mission wasnt a media puff story either. A key to being a fearless brand is having conviction of self. This means not just that he didn't tell lies, but that he was a truth-seekerhe sought to tell the whole truth. Walter Cronkite was born on November 4, 1916, in Saint Joseph, Missouri. One of the key reasons was his integrity. Essays by over 30 trust experts. Want to know that youre right? Although he continued to do occasional reporting on various assignments outside the studio, for many, his retirement felt like the end of an era. Of those attributeshonesty, selflessness, integrity, and vocal cordsperhaps its only his voice that we cannot aspire to. The New York Posts Robert P. Post died when his plane was shot down on the same mission. There arent now, and in fact, there have never been many journalists that had Cronkites level of belief in the American people, in their ability to use their brains and hearts to discern what was really going on in a given situation. 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. Without such faith, democracy cannot flourish. 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. He was an inspiration because he was one of the first household name reporters to have come out of television. In todays multifaceted news environment, with hundreds of channels available on cable and thousands more potential news sources online, its difficult to imagine a single figure having as much impact on the public consciousness as Cronkite did. But the lack of real-world experience has put perspective in short supply, and the public's interest in reading things that simply confirm their own views has put news outlets in a tough spot. 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. Walter Cronkite, often referred to as Uncle Walter, delivered hard news to a nation for two decades. 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. Walter Cronkites legacy continues. Ever genial and humble, Walter Cronkite laughed. "I was remembering another time. Chung's last broadcast as co-anchor was on May 18, 1995. Originally Answered: Why do people believe Walter Cronkite reported in a neutral matter? Cronkites program became Americas most popular television news broadcast. Walter Cronkite and the legend of CBS News. The show was noteworthy not just for its creative spin on historical events: It was also a haven for writers whose names had made it onto Hollywoods black list because of their un-American activities., Three blacklisted screenwriters contributed more than50 of the shows scripts, including many thinly veiled depictions of literal and figurative witch hunts like the trial of Galileo. He said as much over and over, As journalists covering politics, most of us are aware of the necessity to try to be sure we're unbiased in our reporting. That move was right for Cronkite he was true to himself. During that time, he reported on such subjects as the Kennedy assassinations, the Civil Rights . Cronkite was a firm believer in doing what is fair. They find sources and information through the internet -- research is easier than ever. As consumers shifted consumption of news from newsprint to television in the 1960s, consumers shifted whom and what they trusted, too. I finally stopped trying. "He puts on his captain's hat and does that every day," she said with a Candida-type half-shrug, half-smile. Betsy, his wife of forty-five years, died of cancer in 2005. This should be something all reporters should strive for, especially in this polarized society. I left my jacket and wallet in the studio and we're going to be on the air in a few minutes. I'm glad I was soon proved wrong. Huntsburg said he grew up watching Cronkite, who, he said, "touched me." When he heard of Cronkite's death last Friday at 92, Huntsburg and his wife hadn't yet left from their home near Toronto . Once there was a newsman named Walter Cronkite. Your email address will not be published. I think he was so trusted because he exhibited a sense of purpose and compassion, night after night. In 1969, Cronkite covered the first moon landing and moonwalk and the following space program with so much enthusiasm that NASA gave him an Ambassador of Exploration award in 2008. "Walter Cronkite came into the living room reporting the news, and people trusted that he was giving them the truth," she said. The times that Cronkite directly engaged controversy can be counted on one handhis 1968 special, in which he called the Vietnam War a stalemate and called for negotiations, and a pair of 1972 broadcasts about the Watergate scandal, both of which are cited in his New York Times obituary. 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. Fortunately, the show expanded to 30 minutes in September of 1963. I genuinely dont think well ever see a reporter, or journalist, like him, in a long, long time. Finally, I said, either you let me in right now or in about thirty seconds the largest group of people you can imagine will be running through that studio door. He was 92. 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. 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. "Walter was always more than just an anchor. His honest reporting led to a rare assertion of his own viewpoint into the storythat the war was at a stalemate and the two countries should negotiate an end to hostilities. After presenting the first moonwalk to an audience of a full 45 percent of the 125 million people who were glued to their screens that day, he told his co-anchor that nothing compares with thisnot even his experiences covering World War II or the exploits of various heads of state. 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. Most importantly, Cronkite never made it about himself, his feelings, or his star status. He was offered a job with CBS television, which he initially turned down. Walter Cronkite was born on November 4, 1916, in Saint Joseph, Missouri. Turn on the TV, and watch one of three networks for a 30-minute broadcast with an anchor who speaks with the authority of a religious leader or founding father. In the world of news, no matter who you voted for, the most glaringly absent quality is objectivity. Cronkite has changed how people deliver news forever now. It was very enjoyable reading about him. Terms of Use He was 92 and had homes in New York and Martha's Vineyard, Mass. 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. He passed away when I was a freshman in college, but I can't help thinking of him today because I know he would be so proud of this moment. For somebody of my generation, he was the pillar of American broadcast journalism, says David Ward, a historian at the National Portrait Gallery. Walter Cronkite, former CBS anchor known as "Uncle Walter," has died. My grandmother used to tell me about Cronkite and his reporting. He was a true ambassador for the program with a giant reach that no one in NASA could have had alone. These organizations seem to value one person desperately trying to voice their well-worn diatribe over another. Her work has appeared in publications like The Washington Post, TIME, mental_floss, Popular Science and JSTOR Daily. 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. Covering yet another war, this time Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, Mr. Cronkite kindly agreed to help our coverage with an interview. Cronkite was the face of CBS from 1962 to 1981. Cronkite stood out from his peers because of his commitment to truth and objectivity in journalism. Read More. Legendary CBS newsman Walter Cronkite, KB2GSD, who held the title of "Most Trusted Man in America," passed away Friday, July 17 after a long illness. At age 92 face of CBS from 1962 to 1981 diatribe over another when doing NASA projects former anchor. Exploration award in 2008 Kuwait, Mr. Cronkite kindly agreed to help our coverage with Ambassador! To as Uncle Walter, & quot ; Walter was always more than just an.! Out of television very caring, middle class upbringing in the 1960s, consumers shifted consumption of news from to. In his work, especially in this polarized society had no truck with deconstructionists who believe all... 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