In memorian, Walter Cronkite
Saturday, 18. July 2009, 12:40:43
He will certainly be missed. Growing up during the 60's and 70's, he was a ubiquitious figure, and we invited him into our home every night to tell us what's what. His mother lived to be over a hundred, and it's sad that he couldn't have a few more years with us, as long as in good health and cheer. Two anecdotes and an observation:
Some time ago there was a PBS animated series about the revolutionary war. As I watched a bit of it with the girls, the voice of Ben Franklin sounded very familiar. Sure enough, it was Walter Cronkite!
One of may favorite Cronkite stories was the fact that people would too often pronounce his name "Conkrite" instead of Cronkite. One evening, when signing off, he made the same mistake himself, on television. People found this vastly amusing, and he did it more than once, apparently when the news he was reporting had him emotionally moved in some way.
On a more serious note, there is no doubt that Walter was biased, that he had a point of view, and occasionally it would slip out. I'll never forget the way he commented on Schuler's (The Crystal Cathedral guy's) "remarks" at Hubert Humphry's funeral! But the point is this: he tried very hard to be truly objective, and I think it made for much better reporting. Current news anchors and reporters seem to have lost this to a great degree -- I don't think they even try anymore, many of them. They would do well to emulate Walter Cronkite at this point, they would do well indeed.
Some time ago there was a PBS animated series about the revolutionary war. As I watched a bit of it with the girls, the voice of Ben Franklin sounded very familiar. Sure enough, it was Walter Cronkite!
One of may favorite Cronkite stories was the fact that people would too often pronounce his name "Conkrite" instead of Cronkite. One evening, when signing off, he made the same mistake himself, on television. People found this vastly amusing, and he did it more than once, apparently when the news he was reporting had him emotionally moved in some way.
On a more serious note, there is no doubt that Walter was biased, that he had a point of view, and occasionally it would slip out. I'll never forget the way he commented on Schuler's (The Crystal Cathedral guy's) "remarks" at Hubert Humphry's funeral! But the point is this: he tried very hard to be truly objective, and I think it made for much better reporting. Current news anchors and reporters seem to have lost this to a great degree -- I don't think they even try anymore, many of them. They would do well to emulate Walter Cronkite at this point, they would do well indeed.
WIDGETIZE