Legendary journalist Walter Cronkite passed away this weekend at the age of 92. He was the Michael Jackson of reporting for your parents.
Most people reading and writing blogs are too young to remember watching Cronkite — he retired from the CBS Evening News in 1981 — but he was America’s steadiest and most reliable voice through two decades that changed the face of the country. He reported John F. Kennedy’s assassination with a tear in his eye, and his denunciation of the government’s optimism about Vietnam during the Tet Offensive represented a turning point in Americans’ opinion bout the war. He also smoked while reading the news and wore a mustache with panache.
Anyway, there’s a much better and longer tribute to Cronkite at The Live Feed that includes videos of Cronkite’s classic moments, so if you like your obituaries long and serious, you should head over there. All of my obits come with a free armpit-fart sound. And that’s the way it is.
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Don’t worry Ufford, I think that was a fine eugoogoly.
Now the Grim Reaper needs only a couple more celebrities for Hollywood Squares
As someone who payed, and continues to pay, good money for my study of the journalistic arts (broadcast), many a moment was devoted to studying the style and statements laid forth by the masters of the industry. Cronkite in particular… and while his death may not have the same chest punching impact of a Billy Mays or the world weeping retardary of a Michael Jackson, his legacy will surely be one untainted by the current ills of society.
Interesting that his death has come so close to the Apollo 11 anniversary.
he was to journalism what Fox News is to pure unbridled, unreasoned ignorance
Tell us more lies about the Tet offensive uncle walty.
Right on, Leapin_Lizards.
Given the current state of broadcast “journalism,” it’s all too easy to forget what a real journalist is (was? There really aren’t any left, I don’t think…). His broadcasts were not exercises in spin, nor were they pandering to the lowest common denominator. Rather, they were an attempt at communicating the truth to the viewing public. A refreshing idea, don’t you think?