Thanks to Shortstuff for the inspiration!
Unlike many of the talking heads who now appear on various "news" shows, Edward R. Murrow was a journalist with integrity who not only fought for free speech, but for TRUTH in journalism as well.
He once said at the RTNDA Convention in Chicago in 1958 to a group of fellow journalists: "It is not necessary to remind you that the fact that your voice is amplified to the degree where it reaches from one end of the country to the other does not confer upon you greater wisdom or understanding than you possessed when your voice reached only from one end of the bar to the other. All of these things you know."
There are some who sit in those seats today who would do well to pay attention to that statement.
While I am certainly not the writer that Murrow was, I know good writing, and profound thought, when I study it. I also remember someone once saying something along the lines of "those who don't study history are destined to repeat it."
Some Murrow quotes to ponder below:
"I am seized with an abiding fear regarding what these two instruments (radio and television) are doing to our society, our culture and our heritage."
"I have reason to know, as do many of you, that when the evidence on a controversial subject is fairly and calmly presented, the public recognizes it for what it is--an effort to illuminate rather than to agitate."
"If (radio) news is to be regarded as a commodity, only acceptable when saleable, then I don't care what you call it--I say it isn't news."
"Upon occasion, economics and editorial judgment are in conflict. And there is no law which says that dollars will be defeated by duty. "
"I am frightened by the imbalance, the constant striving to reach the largest possible audience for everything; by the absence of a sustained study of the state of the nation."
"This nation is now in competition with malignant forces of evil who are using every instrument at their command to empty the minds of their subjects and fill those minds with slogans, determination and faith in the future. If we go on as we are, we are protecting the mind of the American public from any real contact with the menacing world that squeezes in upon us."
"Unless we get up off our fat surpluses and recognize that television in the main is being used to distract, delude, amuse and insulate us, then television and those who finance it, those who look at it and those who work at it, may see a totally different picture too late."
"The speed of communications is wondrous to behold. It is also true that speed can multiply the distribution of information that we know to be untrue."
"We hardly need to be reminded that we are living in an age of confusion -- a lot of us have traded in our beliefs for bitterness and cynicism or for a heavy package of despair, or even a quivering portion of hysteria. Opinions can be picked up cheap in the market place while such commodities as courage and fortitude and faith are in alarmingly short supply."
"There is a mental fear, which provokes
others of us to see the images of witches in a neighbor's yard and stampedes us
to burn down this house. And there is a creeping fear of doubt, doubt of what
we have been taught, of the validity of so many things we had long since taken
for granted to be durable and unchanging. It has become more difficult than
ever to distinguish black from white, good from evil, right from wrong."
Fellow
journalists held him in high esteem.
What separated Murrow from the pack was courage. Dan Rather
Last week may be remembered as the week that broadcasting recaptured its soul. Jack Gould, TV critic for The New York Times after Murrow's See It Now broadcast of 9 March 1954
He set standards of excellence that remain unsurpassed. Inscription on a plaque dedicated to Murrow in the lobby of CBS headquarters in New York City
He was a resolute and uncompromising man of truth. CBS Chairman William Paley, in his eulogy of Murrow
Today's televangelical charletans (and dropout empty-headed political celebrities) with their false emotions and desire to foment fear, acrimony and partisan dissent nationwide do not serve us well, and distract us from the business of being a prosperous and successful nation, for all of its citizens.
One can only imagine what Murrow would have had to say about today's unreal "reality" shows and the likes of those who daily opine with no research or truth behind their statements.
It's past time for broadcasting and journalism to recapture its soul, don't you think?
The
politicians are another story.
Good night, and good luck, as he would say.
spoken (or written) like a dude!
LOL
journalism has been compromised ever since they figured out that "if it bleeds it leads"
Personally, I like a good sense of humor and a nice rack. Not too big. No Anna Nicole or Dolly Parton.
Doug, I think another reason you don't see journalists like Murrow is that the literacy rate in this country is abysmal. While the pen has always been mightier than the sword, the bloody sword is what tends to get the attention of those fascinated by the train wrecks.
We have grown-up "professionals" out there in the workforce who can't discern the difference between your and you're, they're and there and their, and so on.
It's a sad state, and many children are left behind in our continually deteriorating educational system.
I guess I'm in the minority because I think being smart and literate is sexy.
What a nerd.
I think Maddow and Olbermann are brilliant people, but they can't claim to be objective. To their credit, I don't know that either of them have. The problem as I see it is that journalism is splitting along ideological lines. Most of the ones left in a middle can barely read a telepromptor.
Outstanding piece Voice!
Excellent comment doug. You are right. In the news biz, credibility is second or maybe third to profitability. I think most of the TV news persons WANT to get it right. Newspapers too. Where we lose sight of the target is when the news directors have their feet held to the fire over ratings, which, of course, means the almighty dollar. I personally knew people at KTRH in the old days. They would have sooner cut off a foot rather than air Rush Limbaugh.
I would agree, but after reading Murrow's comments I'm not sure there is any journalist alive with an equivalent intellect and ability to express ideas? What do you think?
As probably most people who read your column know, the news divisions at the major networks were considered at the time of Murrow to be seperate entities from the commercial aspects of the networks, with their own funding. The effect being that they did not feel the need to compete for ratings unlike today. So..news back then actually was kind of like news should be, instead of infotainment. For this reason and others, a journalist like Murrow could emerge, but today someone like that could never arise. The network bosses are looking for script readers, not independent journalists...but...maybe they're is hope...(Maddow, Olberman)
And will someone please get Sam Seder and Mike Malloy t.v. programs?
yes, that's impressive!
I am truly honored. You said what I feel so much better than I ever could!!!