Saying Goodbye to Walter Cronkite

Hi Everyone,

Well, I guess you're all aware of today's anniversary. 40 years ago today, a group of three men landed on the moon and took one giant leap for mankind. I've heard interviews with the Apollo astronauts now talking about how they looked back at the Earth and found it remarkable to see how small it looked in the dark void of space. They talk now about how fragile the Earth is now, how many problems are plaguing it now, and we all need to keep it safe. Very interesting, very heartening, too.

Anyway, today, I come to pay tribute to a man whom you've probably heard about by now. Walter Cronkite, who was a legendary CBS TV reporter from World War II to the 80's, died last week at age 92. His reporting, of course, came long before my time. However, given some of the facts about his reporting versus the reporting of today, it gives me a lot more respect for him. He got his start reporting in World War II alongside Edward R. Murrow (another man whose reporting we could use today).

During the Vietnam War, he offered commentary that no one would think of today. He told the country that Vietnam had become a stalemate which could result in a "cosmic disaster," in the form of a nuclear war. He reported that what the Government and the Pentagon had told the people was not true. Today, on the other hand, NBC's David Gregory dismissed allegations that the media didn't do enough to question the Government before Iraq, Gregory said that it "isn't the news media's job to question the Government." Um, Dave, it is your job. I'm aware that when someone dies, people tend to remember the best things about someone, exaggerate them, and ignore the rest (cough, Michael Jackson). However, hearing this made me like Cronkite sooo much.

Fellow journalists, professionals and amateurs like me, have voiced great reverence for the late Walter Cronkite. Katie Couric commented noted that when he was in the anchor chair, if he was critical of a policy, it was much harder for an administration to pass it. That is something to be admired. Imagine a journalist who highlighted elements of a policy that didn't work for people, and then the administration had to fix it. Oh, what a wonderful day that would be. But I've gotta get out of my daydream. So you see why I've got quite a bit of respect for the late Mr. Cronkite.

So what has changed since Cronkite left the anchor chair? Well, for one thing, the media is very corporate dominated today. All the major media outlets are owned by about five huge corporations (Time Warner, Viacomm, and a few others). They depend on access to politicians, corporate figures, celebrities and such for their ratings and salaries. So if they publish something those in power don't like, they could very easily have their career and status pulled out from under them. Our culture has become geared so much toward "infotainment." The news media gives things such an in-your-face, UFC type feel, instead of the serious, slightly uncomfortable analysis that Walter gave when he blew the lid off what was going on in Vietnam, or that Edward R. Murrow gave when he stopped Joseph McCarthy in his tracks.

The news today is at the mercy of some very rich and powerful folks, on whom they depend for their fortunes and fame. But the people have been complicit in this, tuning in time and time again. Perhaps people are drawn to this infotainment culture because it's easier to swallow. If the media had to question our government, question those powerful CEO's, and whoever, people might figure out some uncomfortable things about our culture. Maybe our way of life is costing us a lot more than we realize. Maybe some serious reforms are in order. This would be a very painful thing to discover, especially for people who profit a great deal from this way of life.

But I refuse to give up hope. If nothing else, there is always hope. Maybe someday soon, another Walter Cronkite will emerge, and will use his status and fame not solely for their good, but for the good of the world. Perhaps he (or she) could use the reporting they do to persuade those with power to keep on the right course. Maybe that person would be guided by the spirit of Walter, just as Luke Skywalker was guided by the spirit of Obi-Wan. The world awaits. Anyway, Walter, for what it's worth, the Daily Reeder salutes you!

This is the Daily Reeder, Over&out.