Do you believe everything that you hear? Would it matter who was telling you the information? In two decades of being a CBS news anchor, Walter Cronkite became the most trusted man in America. He was one of the most famous, largest television journalist known all around the world. He was the head anchor for some of the biggest news stories of man kind. Stories raging from when president Kennedy was assassinated, to when the first man landed on the moon, and the Vietnam War—arguably one of the most important events he impacted.
Walter Cronkite was a prime example of how personal opinion can alter public opinion. For example, the population wanted to listen to someone they could trust and believe in. For most of us, that may be a parent, a sibling, or a best friend. But when it comes to the news, the person we trust is the man or woman sitting on the other side of the screen. This happens extremely??? these days with social media distributing majority of the news to the younger generations. There are many people who would be affected by one’s thoughts, and potentially follow what they say, such as if a famous athlete like Lebron James were to voice his opinion regarding a topic. In the 1960’s Walter Cronkite altered the opines of man, and was labeled “The Most Trusted Man in America”. Anything the man would say, would draw public opinion in comparison to his. When he delivered the news of President Kennedy’s death, he removed his glasses and took a moment of silence. He delivered his true emotions regarding the situation, which drew the same emotion into the viewers’. When man first landed on the moon he showed emotion of excitement, which was also drawn out of the viewers. The community followed and listened to him. Whatever type of emotion he showed, was in turn what the viewers of America felt.
Walter Cronkite’s reign hit its peak during a newscast in 1968 regarding the Vietnam War. Walter made a comment saying, “It seems now more certain than ever that the bloody experience of Vietnam is to end in a stalemate… it is increasingly clear to this reporter that the only rational way out then will be to negotiate, not as victors, but as honorable people who lived up to their pledge to defend democracy, and did the best they could.” By him saying this, it shook up the entire nation. Many believed because Walter made those comments, it influenced President Johnson’s decision to negotiate with the North Vietnamese and not run for office in 1968. In a much later 2007 interview, Walter stated the same theme regarding the Iraq War. Cronkite did not believe in war and in sending young men out to die in the field of battle.
I believe that his stance on the Vietnam War had a big and lasting impact on news reporters today. He made it so personal opinion is now held to a much stronger regard than it once was. When the media world could see how much of an effect and impact that he had, it would never be the same. It still has lasting effects in todays media. If a news reporter were to emphasize or voice their own bias opinion on a situation, they now know the effect that they could possibly cause. The fact that he was not afraid of voicing his opinion showed courage and bravery and sets a fine example for reporters today. He voiced his opinion in a way that felt friendly, in a way that made you feel it was okay to disagree even though you would not. Reporters should not feel insecurities when it comes to voicing their opinions considering they are the ones behind the desk delivering us the news.
I agree with Cronkite’s views and believe that War is a huge waste of money and time. I think that the world will never know peace until we can learn to work as one. We need to view this planet as one place—Earth. We are all here together as human beings, as opposed to segregating ourselves to our beliefs and backgrounds. It was very good and courageous of Walter to have voiced his opinion like that on public television. Walter’s bravery has potentially saved a lot of lives, and truly influenced this world.
Water Cronkite gave credibility to himself through his work. Instead of sitting behind his desk blindly reporting, Walter was right in the mix of the action to be able to develop his own true opinion to be delivered to the people. It truly says a lot about a man’s character and impact they leave on this world, when they die and are still being spoken and reported on. When he died in 2009, President Obama issued a statement saying that Cronkite was the “voice of certainty in an uncertain world.”. He gave the people someone to believe in and follow. I truly think that personal opinion strongly alters public opinion which can be very dangerous, depending on who’s personal opinion we are receiving the news from. Walter Cronkite was an incredible news figure while delivering his opinions and had a very positive impact on this world. The meaning of life is to leave this world a better place than it was when we came into it, and Walter Cronkite was a true symbol of this definition.
Article By: Sam Silverstein
Evolution of News Media 