Walter Cronkite On The Media—And The MediaChannel

[You can watch a video of this speech here]

Good evening, I’m Walter Cronkite. I really wanted to be with you in person tonight for Globalvision New Media’s launch of the new Internet site the Media Channel, but unfortunately I was called out of the country. Yet the issues that led to the creation of this unique global resource, and the crisis that’s facing all of us who work in and care about journalism and the media, are so profound that I simply felt compelled to tape this message so that you would know that I am with you in spirit at least.

As you know, I’ve been increasingly and publicly critical of the direction that journalism has taken of late, and of the impact on democratic discourse and principles. Like you, I’m deeply concerned about the merger mania that has swept our industry, diluting standards, dumbing down the news, and making the bottom line sometimes seem like the only line. It isn’t and it shouldn’t be.

At the same time, I’m impressed that so many other serious and concerned people around the world are also becoming interested in holding media companies accountable and upholding the highest standards of journalism.

The Media Channel will undoubtedly be worth watching and taking part in. I am intrigued by its potential, and its global reach. The idea that so many leading groups and individuals around the whole world have come together to share resources and information about a wide range of media concerns is very promising, and I urge you to make the Media Channel your media ‘bookmark’ and your portal to the Internet.

I’m particularly excited about one aspect of the Media’s Channel’s work: its encouragement to people inside the media to speak up—to speak out about their own experiences. Corporate censorship is just as dangerous as government censorship, you know, and self-censorship can be the most insidious form of pulling punches. Pressures to go along, to get along, or to place the needs of advertisers or companies above the public’s need for reliable information distort a free press and threaten democracy itself.

I’m pleased that the Media Channel opens an immediately available resource for media whistle-blowers. Anonymity will be protected, of course—if their stories check out, of course. And, of course, are backed up with the facts.

We have all been supportive for years of dissidents around the world who take great risks to stand up for what they believe in. But here at home, in our own industry, we need to make it possible for people to speak out when they feel they’ve been wronged, even if it means shaming newsrooms to do the right thing. Journalists shouldn’t have to check their consciences at the door when they go to work for a media company. It ought to be just the reverse.

As I’ve said on other occasions, the strength of the American system is possible and can be nurtured only if there is lively and provocative dissent. In a healthy environment dissent is encouraged and considered essential to feed a cross-fertilization of ideas and thwart the incestuous growth of stultifying uniformity.

We need to encourage and support those among us who face either overt or covert threats—or even a more subtle absence of encouragement to search out the truth. We all know that economic pressures and insecurities within news organizations have reduced the scope and range of investigative reporting. Sometimes projects are spiked with just a simple phrase: “It’s not for us.”

We’re always ready to speak out when journalists are at risk. But today we must speak out because journalism itself is at risk. That’s why I’m speaking out and reaching out to you tonight, to tell you that I like the idea of the Media Channel and want to encourage your participation. And that’s the way it is.

Popularity: 12% [?]

News reporting, the new gold rush. Facts, hearsay, opinions, guesses, delusions, lies, all comers welcome. Truth be damned!

Walter Cronkite, Aaron Brown, Ted Koppel, please come back!
This giant issue of jouralistic independence and integrity is one of THE most critical today if we want any hope of a safe future/world for ourselves and our children.
How dp we develop and support journalists with integrity?
We have a few, but they seem harder and harder to find these days….a vanishing breed.
Support MediaChannel.org!!!

I grew up watching Walter Cronkite every evening, and I don’t believe he would have a chance if he were starting out today.
Today, the networks use the evening news shows (now “infotainment”, not legitimate news reporting)to sell political agendas. “Investigative journalism” has been confined to testing laundry detergents to see which one gives us whiter whites, brighter colors. Anything beyond that is simply not profitable, and profit takes priority over having an informed public.

Thankyou Mr.Cronkite, I grew up, like many, listening to you, thankyou for showing me what’s right, I miss your reporting greatly, you are an American Hero. Thankyou Peter.

Only those craving a return to the old days care what Walter Cronkite says. Eons ago he filled a need for the BS we thought we needed at the time. If you want to catch a semblance of Cronkite’s act check out Bob Schieffer, his dour and tired persona changes, but only slightly, when he praises Bill Clintons or criticizes George Bush, I know one of these days he will blurt out, “I love you, Bill.”, and when Bush completes his term, he, Schieffer, will announce, “America’s long nighmare is over, thank God that I have lived to see this day.” Why does CBS feel the need to have newspeople who seem to be attempting to put us into a hypnotic sleep? Even Katie Couric, who used to be so perky, seems on the edge of tears, I guess it’s as close as she can get to sounding all somber and contemplative, like Cronkite, terribly saddened by the day’s events. Small wonder that young people think the Daily Show is the latest news rather than a comedy skit.

Walter you are a traitor to the USA in that you want a global government to rule the world.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=heegk07026I

How can big media (BM) tell the people what they need to know about big business (BB) when BB owns BM? My profound thanks to those who have created Media Channel. My profound thanks to Mr Cronkite for speaking truth to power. Democracies cannot work without an informed citizenry. That’s why the US is in such bad shape in so many ways. Hopefully, the great economic crisis we are going through will wake people up enough to do something about the insidious corporate control of America and the world.

I remember studying in History Class something about the Country being kept together by a reasonable 1/3rd of the people. How about the major networks taking a chance on us reasonable/sane 1/3 by bringing back real news men like Walter Cronkite, David Brinkely etc. (Brian Williams has potential) ….They gave you the straight facts and no opinion, unlike news shows like Today who are at times down right telling us how we should think. Shame on you matt laur. You used to be a serious newsy when you started. Now just a glamour puss talking head!