Walter Cronkite 1916 - 2009Walter Cronkite died today. He was 92. His death makes me sad for two reasons. First, because I grew up with his news broadcasts on television. I listened to him report the first moon walk. I listened to his views on Vietnam. I listened to him when he interviewed Anwar Sadat. He was an institution in the American media and we trusted his calm and straightforward reportage because we knew he was unafraid to tell the truth. Cronkite never had to borow power from brown nosing politicians. Cronkite wielded real power and used it to make America better instead of using it to tear it down.
The other reason I'm sad is because he stands in stark contrast against the loss of real reporters in the mainstream media. Instead of a Cronkite or a Brinkley or a Reasoner we are now inflicted (infected?) with such "giants" as an Olbermann or a Couric or a Gibson. When Cronkite spoke, we could depend on what he said was what we needed to know - what was, in fact, news.
Now, not so much.
Rest in Peace Walter Cronkite. You will be missed.
0 comments:
Post a Comment