They haven’t made TV journalists like that for some time now. We are the worse for his loss.
I’m saddened by his death because there is a whole new generation of young people who are asking, “Who was he? Some TV news guy?” They don’t know what a good reporter looks like. They weren’t here when Mr Cronkite told us about Viet Nam or Nixon or President Kennedy’s assassination. Or anything. They will never see another broadcast journalist of his kind. He was remarkable and even though he’s been out of the spotlight, I always took comfort knowing he was still walking among us. I’m so sorry that he’s gone.
His announcement that Kennedy was dead will never leave my brain. He gave news his all and we were all better citizens for it.
When TV was new and someone came up with the idea of a national televised news program, they looked for the best journalist they could find. Cronkite was a print journalist before he made the move to radio and we know him because he shaped TV reporting like a potter shapes clay.
Alas, the bean counters took over the turf of real reporters. Accountants worry about ratings and advertising revenue, and watch the polls, internet hits and gossip. Pretty boys and pretty girls are the ‘talking heads’ who read their scripts and tell their little jokes. It’s entertainment.
Walter Cronkite was the real deal – authentic, informed, sincere and totally dedicated to his craft. The world will not see the likes of him again in my lifetime, at least. Thank you, Walter Cronkite. Sleep well.
I saw Walter Cronkite at Disney’s Polynesian Resort about 15 years ago. I wanted to say hi and thank him for his many years of true excellence in broadcasting, but he was with his family, and I didn’t want to disturb him.
He was one of a kind, helping guide a nation through the turbulence of the 60’s; 3 assasinations, race riots, and an unwinable war in indochina.
We have lost Walter Cronkite, we have about lost our country, and that’s the way it is………………
erinyes,
Sadly, you are right, and that IS the way it is…
How it came to be is a sad story of chasing dollars through entertainment rather than news.
The retrospects of Mr. Cronkite are showing just how horrible TV news is today.
All this is true and more. I’m 29, I’ve only seen bits and pieces of Cronkite’s work. He represents to me an era of America where disseminating information in a fair and in depth manner was the most important part of a journalists craft. Today’s journalism is driven by glitz and glam, high ratings, celebrities, and girls in mini skirts (you have seen the Fox News daytime anchor teams by now right?)! The world has changed… and not for the better. Actual information means less today than it used to, Steven Colber’s “truthiness” is a good description of it.
They haven’t made TV journalists like that for some time now. We are the worse for his loss.
I’m saddened by his death because there is a whole new generation of young people who are asking, “Who was he? Some TV news guy?” They don’t know what a good reporter looks like. They weren’t here when Mr Cronkite told us about Viet Nam or Nixon or President Kennedy’s assassination. Or anything. They will never see another broadcast journalist of his kind. He was remarkable and even though he’s been out of the spotlight, I always took comfort knowing he was still walking among us. I’m so sorry that he’s gone.
His announcement that Kennedy was dead will never leave my brain. He gave news his all and we were all better citizens for it.
When TV was new and someone came up with the idea of a national televised news program, they looked for the best journalist they could find. Cronkite was a print journalist before he made the move to radio and we know him because he shaped TV reporting like a potter shapes clay.
Alas, the bean counters took over the turf of real reporters. Accountants worry about ratings and advertising revenue, and watch the polls, internet hits and gossip. Pretty boys and pretty girls are the ‘talking heads’ who read their scripts and tell their little jokes. It’s entertainment.
Walter Cronkite was the real deal – authentic, informed, sincere and totally dedicated to his craft. The world will not see the likes of him again in my lifetime, at least. Thank you, Walter Cronkite. Sleep well.
I saw Walter Cronkite at Disney’s Polynesian Resort about 15 years ago. I wanted to say hi and thank him for his many years of true excellence in broadcasting, but he was with his family, and I didn’t want to disturb him.
He was one of a kind, helping guide a nation through the turbulence of the 60’s; 3 assasinations, race riots, and an unwinable war in indochina.
We have lost Walter Cronkite, we have about lost our country, and that’s the way it is………………
erinyes,
Sadly, you are right, and that IS the way it is…
How it came to be is a sad story of chasing dollars through entertainment rather than news.
The retrospects of Mr. Cronkite are showing just how horrible TV news is today.
All this is true and more. I’m 29, I’ve only seen bits and pieces of Cronkite’s work. He represents to me an era of America where disseminating information in a fair and in depth manner was the most important part of a journalists craft. Today’s journalism is driven by glitz and glam, high ratings, celebrities, and girls in mini skirts (you have seen the Fox News daytime anchor teams by now right?)! The world has changed… and not for the better. Actual information means less today than it used to, Steven Colber’s “truthiness” is a good description of it.
May Mr. Cronkite rest well.