A great man died today. A man whose face appeared in the living room of millions of households every night for 19 years. Walter Leland Cronkite Jr passed away today at the age of 92 after battling cerebrovascular disease for many years.
For those who knew of him knows that he was the face of the news, the man who truly represented journalism. There were many before him and many after, but he was and always will be a staple in the world of news. Before the 24 news cycles, the left/right pundits, and the blogosphere, Walter reported the events of the day and everyone listened. He was the definition of journalistic integrity, and not too many can come close in comparison.
Walter was there to report the Kennedy assassination, gave first hand reporting from Vietnam during the war, and played a crucial role in exposing the Watergate scandal. His list of notable stories is endless. The importance of each one emphasized by him and remembered by all.
I was not around during the prime of his success, but I have been greatly influenced by his character and his ability to report the news honestly. Many say that true journalism is fading, and when I think about the loss of Tim Russert and now Walter, I am almost tempted to believe it. I think journalists these days have to try harder to just report what is happening in the world to the world. The "I'm right, you're wrong" attitude is exactly what's destroying journalistic integrity. Journalists have to maintain the path that men like Walter had paved for them in order for the world to respect their work.
I am deeply saddened about the loss of Walter and I am further discouraged about the current state of journalism and where it may head without the guidance of a great pioneer. I truly hope that this sudden and terrible loss of Walter will awaken the passion of journalists so that they may continue to build upon what Walter had indubitably started.
Rest in Peace Walter Cronkite.
And that's the way it is.
- Franny.
No comments:
Post a Comment