Edward R. Murrow Set The Standard For Journalists

To feature the end of Edward R. Murrow goes against the norm of presenting things in chronological order but to remember the man better allows for the understanding of his contributions to news and as presented here on this blog about radio. There will be other postings about Murrow in the future.

Murrow was one of those fortunate ones who only had one employer for his life long career as a journalist and that was CBS.

He joined CBS in 1935 as director of talks and education and amazingly enough CBS did not have a news department except for staff announcer Robert Trout. Murrow's job then was what today would be termed as an assistant to the producer who would schedule people to appear on programs. It was a far cry from what Murrow would become, perhaps the greatest broadcast journalist this country will ever know. Many past, present and future news broadcasters, whether free-lance, local or network, radio or TV, use Murrow as the high bar of accomplishment.

Some who have reached that high bar standard have been honored with the Edward R. Murrow Award.

Murrow as he moved on to television and into further journalistic greatness on occasion butted heads with CBS owner William S. Paley over what Murrow considered unwanted, unneeded and unnecessary interference with Murrow's programs particularly the hit news program See It Now which often took on controversial subjects of the time.

Murrow left CBS and the turmoil and interference of Paley in 1961 to become the head of the government body the United States Information Agency which oversaw the Voice of America broadcast service. Then President John F. Kennedy offered the position to Murrow. He left just a few short years later when health problems due to lung cancer began to take its toll. He died on April 27, 1965 at his country home in Pawling, NY after just turning the young age of 57.

There is so much history about the man, much more than this simple blog will allow space for. To learn more about Murrow and the sources used for this posting go HERE and HERE .

Below is a tribute to Edward R. Murrow which was presented by WNEW-AM in New York on May 2, 1965. It should be noted that someone had the foresight to save the tape as it would have otherwise ended up in the garbage when in 1991 WNEW-AM moved from its 3rd Avenue offices in New York City.

Whoever that person was, we the fans of Edward R. Murrow and those of us who have and do work in broadcasting owe a debt of undying gratitude as he was remembered as he should be, on the radio.