Walter Cronkite

Now they are all gone.

Eric Sevareid, Charles Collingwood, Robert Trout, Howard K. Smith, Richard C. Hottelet, Edward R. Murrow .... and now Walter Cronkite. These were the best and brightest of print and broadcast journalists. All came from a newspaper and/or wire service background. They understood the news; they understood their role in reporting it; they trusted the listener to hear and understand the import of what they were saying.

They came to be known first to America through their reporting of unfolding events in Europe during WWII. After the war most of them joined CBS, though I recall Howard K. Smith went to ABC.

What we miss now is the intellectual and moral honesty they brought to their craft. My wife knows how much I miss that in today's news reporting because I complain about it to her all the time.

Today's news reporting is more about speculation, fear, conspiracy, distrust, and of course, the performance of the reporter.

No one alive at the time of President Kennedy's assassination will ever forget the moment Walter Cronkite reported the official death, exact time and place, and nothing more. Can you imagine the same report by one of today's reporters. It would probably go something like this:

Reporter Jane Doe: "President Kennedy was brutally murdered today in Dallas, Texas. We don't know but there may have been more more than one killer. Some have said the Russians may have been involved. Our armed forces are attempting to secure the borders and the Pentagon may be preparing for war. No one knows for sure because the reports we are getting from official sources are inconsistent at best. ... Now to John Smith in the weather center."

Reporter John Smith: "Weather in a moment, Jane, but first viewers need to know at least four Category Five hurricanes are expected to reach landfall along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts this season. Viewers should prepare today for the worst to come. Today, however, the high will be 75 and pleasant...a good day to visit the hardware store and stock up for the rough weather ahead."

See what I mean.

What are they teaching in Journalism schools today? Is this genie so far out of the bottle that it can't be put back?

I'm trying to think of someone in the media even close to the Cronkite mold....and I am coming up empty. If you can think of even one, let me know.