Edward R. Murrow was a polished journalist whose independence and unique reporting style impacted the radio and television industry alike. From the start of World War II until his death in 1965, Murrow’s universally recognized voice and honest tone surely made a difference in the lives’ of his many listeners.
Instilled from his upbringing in a working class Quaker family, Murry developed a strong belief in the “underdog”, allowing this ideal to shine through in all of his works. Already stationed overseas as a “Director of Talks” for CBS, Murrow saw an opportunity for radio broadcasting to bring World War II action into American homes. In 1937, Murrow was instructed to develop a team of correspondents to cover the war front in Europe. Collectively known as the “Murrow Boys”, the team reported the entirety of World War II covering the front lines with unheralded loyalty, all inspired by Murrow’s fearlessness. Unlike any other broadcaster, Murrow flew in countless bombing missions over Berlin in addition to conveying the horrors of Nazi concentration camps. Murrow’s ability to articulate facts with ultimate accuracy was unparalleled, but it was his ability to communicate emotion and sentiment that made him stand out. Going beyond the surface level, Murrow broadcasted
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Viewed as a star in the eyes of many, Murrow was asked to host a weekly television show, See It Now, a counterpart to his radio show, Hear it Now. Murrow had developed a strong sense of nationalism as he made an effort to capture stories of ordinary Americans. With this unique formula, Murrow was able to mold the individuals’ stories into influential commentaries on select political issues. Murrow produced a powerful special on Senator Joseph McCarthy, making him out to be a lunatic, exposing his Red Scare tactics. This was a pivotal episode on See It Now that would have a lasting effect on American journalism for years to
The intended effect of “American History” was to entertain and show how TV news and news in general affects people. In contrast the intended effect of “Tv Coverage…” was to inform readers how John F. Kennedy's assassination affected the news.
By the time Joseph McCarthy gave his Lincoln day speech the Red Scare in America was on full blast. Just a year prior to the speech the Soviets had successfully tested a nuclear bomb and China fell to the communists. There were problems both internationally with the Soviet incursion into Eastern Europe and domestically with Soviet spies in the United States. On February 9th 1950 this Senator from Wisconsin took advantage of the opportunity at his speech to the Republicans Women’s Club of Wheeling, West Virginia.
McCarthy, J. (1950, February 09). Speech at wheeling, west virginia. Retrieved December 02, 2013 from http://teachamericanhistory.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/mccarthy_wheeling_speech.pdf
...ughout the film Good Night and Good Luck, music is a defining quality in how the movie progresses in the fight against communism, and McCarthy, and helps in the development of characters as well as the emotion that the audience is meant to feel. With the country’s safety being put into question America needed an advocate against unnecessary accusations and Murrow was that advocate. These three songs presented give an acceptable representation of the growth of media, the fear of having not only an enemies “eyes” on you but having friends “eyes” on you as well, the instability that the country has faced over the years and of 1950s America.
The radio has had a huge impact on bringing information to the public about war and other government issues. Advertising and broadcasting on the airwaves was a major step in bringing war propaganda to a level where people could be easily touched nationally. Broadcasting around the clock was being offered everywhere. Before there was television people relied on the radio as a way to be entertained, the means of finding out what was going on in the world, and much more. During the World War II time period, 90 percent of American families owned a radio, and it was a part of daily life. So it was an obvious means of spreading war propaganda. During this time period, propaganda was spread throughout the radio by means of news programs, public affairs broadcasts, as well as through Hollywood and the mainstream. The average person had not even graduated high school at the time, and the average reading level of the American was somewhat low. The radio made it possible for stories and news to be delivered to everyone in plain simple English. The radio served as a medium that provided a sense of national community. Although it took time, the radio eventually rallied people together to back up the American war effort.
It wasn’t just when the news was delivered but also how it was delivered. It had an influence because of the great personalities of Dick Smyth, Lee Marshall, Grant Hudson and others who dramatically and entertainingly delivered the news. They reported the news “dramatically” and with the “same energy as disk jockeys had snappy writing with alliterations, and a lot of short sound bites.” They were deejays without music. This dynamic combination of news reporting made for an amusing news report; that not only captured the audience, but also kept them tuning in.
Yellow journalism is “a scandal-mongering practice of journalism that emerged in New York” during the nineteenth century (Kennedy and Cohen 558). This form of propaganda was influential during a time of war because it persuaded many indecisive Americans. For example, William Randolph Hearst had “the most influential newspaper in New York” (Crucible of Empire). In his newspaper, the New York Journal, he was able to spin stories in ways that he wanted to; thereby controlling the public and their thoughts and opinions on certain issues. In particular, his article about the sinking of the Maine was one of the biggest and most influential stories he published (“Yellow Journalism” par. 3). “After the sinking of the Maine, the Hearst newspapers, with no evidence, unequivocally blamed the Spanish” and the public quickly followed (“Yellow Journalism” par. 3). His story changed America’s view on the situation and eventually provoked action. The Spanish American War marked a change in the way many wars were typically fought. At the turn of the century, “the United States emerged as a world power, and the U.S. press proved its influence” (“Yellow Journalism” par. 4). As shown in the documentary, Crucible of Empire, the Spanish American War changed the way Americans approached war by introducing the practice of yellow journalism and influential
The majority of the country’s drama in the 1960s was a result of the Vietnam War. Many citizens weren’t happy about being at war once again, and this time, it seemed like a never ending war. As time went on the citizens grew more desperate for an end to this war. One reason that citizens were disgusted with the idea of the war was because of the Pentagon Papers. The Pentagon Papers contained private information about the Vietnam War. Daniel Ellsberg, who worked for the Department of Defense Study of the U.S. political and military involvement in the Vietnam War, got ahold of this private information. Daniel decided that what was going on wasn’t right, and we wanted the rest of the country’s citizens to know what was really going on. He copied and sent these papers to the New York Times and had them release the information for the public to read (networks). Once the citizens realized the truth about Vietnam, they were ready to start fighting for a change.
...y Wheeling speech created nationwide hysteria, and with its impeccable timing just days after the conviction of the State Official Alga Hiss for lying under oath about his association with the communist Soviet as a spy, fueled the fight on communism. (citation) McCarthy war on communism during the “Second Red Scare” did not leave any individual safe from accusations. He attacked government agents, entertainment industry workers, educators, union members, and alienated the left-wing Democrats. McCarthy helped to create the atmosphere of suspicion and panic with his growth in media coverage. McCarthy’s words made for big headlines and the media was quick to cover his stories. This exposure helped facilitate American approval of McCarthy and empowered him to make more accusations on those suspected of subversion. In 1953, McCarthy headed the Government Operations Commit
“Fake” news programs, such as The Daily Show, Zinser reasonably argues, have the potential to dilute mass media and deceive viewers. The Daily Show has been straightforward about its lack of legitimacy as a hard hitting news program, but “the show’s content and guest list suggest otherwise” (Zinser 367). Zinser indicates that The Daily Show should hold itself to higher standards because “people might well think they’re being fully or sufficiently informed while watching” (367). In other words, Zinser believes that if viewers tune in with the expectation of becoming informed and The Daily Show’s content consists of significant topics, the creators ...
With the onset of the Cold War, a growing Red Scare would cripple American society – effectively plunging the nation into mass hysteria and unrest over the fallacious threat of communist infiltration. This reaction was precipitated by Republican senator, Joseph McCarthy, in his speech, “Enemies from Within”, delivered in Wheeling, West Virginia, on 9 February 1950. McCarthy paints communists in a particularly harsh light to generate anti-Soviet sentiment within the American public. He uses juxtaposition to engender both indignation and fear in the audience to achieve this effect.
Woodward and Bernstein's undertaking constructed the cornerstone for the modern role of the media. The making of the movie about the Watergate Scandal and the ventures of the two journalists signify the importance of the media. The media’s role as intermediary is exemplified throughout the plot of the movie. The movie is the embodiment of journalism that guides future journalists to progress towards the truth, no matter what they are going up against. It was the endeavor of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein that led them to the truth behind the president’s men. They showed that not even the president is able to deter the sanctity of journalism in its search of truth. The freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, and people’s right to know account for the same truth that journalists pursue; the truth that democracy is alive and will persist to live on.
It goes without saying that “to whom much is given, much will be required”. It’s difficult to celebrate bravery and greatness of any man for acting courageous in selective situations. Courage and bravery should be applied to every level of humanity not just area’s that impact our livelihood or personal interest. I think the Walter Cronkite was brave in the pursuit of truth but not all truths.
The ‘Golden Age of Television’ is what many refer to as the period between the 1950s and 60s when the television began to establish itself as a prevalent medium in the United States. In 1947, the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), and the Du Mont Network were the four main television networks that ran stations with regular programming taking place. (Television, 2003) While regular television programming was a new innovation, the television itself had been commercially available for over twenty years prior to the 50s. It was conceived by many worldly innovators and went through several testing stages before it was finally completed in the late twenties. The three main innovators were Niplow - who first developed a rotating disk with small holes arranged in a spiral pattern in 1884, Zworykin - who developed the Iconoscope which could scan pictures and break them into electronic signals (a primitive form of the Cathode Ray Tube) in 1923, and lastly Fansworth - who demonstrated for the first time that it was possible to transmit an electrical image in 1927. (Rollo, 2011) However, one of the many reasons why this medium was successful in the 50s was due to the fact that it became more accessible to the public. Television sets were more affordable to middle class citizens which created further interest in the new technology. Through an historical account of the medium, the spread of television across America throughout this particular decade will be examined.
Encyclopedia of the New American Nation. Television – Tv news and the early cold war. 2013. Web. 15 Dec. 2013.