EOTO #3: WALTER CRONKITE

Who was Walter Cronkite?

CHILDHOOD AND UPBRINGING: 

On November 4th, 1916, Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. was born. Cronkite was an only child, born in St. Joseph, Missouri, to his parents, Walter Cronkite Sr. and Helen Cronkite. He was raised in Kansas City and eventually relocated to Houston, Texas. Following his family's migration, Cronkite read about a foreign correspondent in the Boy's Life magazine. This storyline gave Cronkite the inspiration needed for his future career aspirations, eventually becoming one of the most significant news anchors on American television.

With his parents' separation in 1932, Cronkite went to live with his mother. He attended San Jacinto High School, where he edited the school's newspaper and even won a state journalism contest. From there, his career objectives strengthened with inspiration from a professional newspaperman volunteering at San Jacinto High School. Eventually, Cronkite worked at the Houston Post, employed as a copy boy, a delivery boy, and an occasional cub reporter.

MOVING INTO JOURNALISM:

Following high school graduation, Cronkite attended the University of Texas at Austin. Unfortunately, he withdrew from the institution due to low attendance records and academic struggles. Instead, he worked for the Houston Press. Then in 1936, Cronkite was employed at a radio station, where he met his future wife, Mary Elizabeth "Betsy" Maxwell. He was eventually fired from the position because of a refusal to air a breaking eyewitness report without verifying the source first. This striking moment highlights his commitment to journalistic integrity and ethical practice.

Instead, in 1937, he worked with the United Press wire service, where Cronkite developed skills of accuracy and composure, two essential elements of his career's success. He was offered another favorable position by CBS journalist Edward R. Murrow, but quickly turned it down.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT:

Throughout Cronkite's career, he went on to report the world's most unpredictable and transformative stories. In particular, he traveled with "The Writing 69th" in World War II. These eight journalists flew bombing raids over Germany. Cronkite also covered D-Day, the European front for the United Press, and became the chief United Press correspondent at the Nuremberg trials. 

Eventually, Cronkite moved to television with CBS. In 1952, he covered political conventions, and these reports heavily increased his national prominence. Due to Cronkite's efforts, CBS coined the term "anchorman" to depict his position. For the next nineteen years, Cronkite spearheaded CBS Evening News. In this role, he reported on the assassination of President Kennedy, the Apollo 11 Moon landing, the Watergate Scandal, President Nixon's resignation, etc. 

LEGACY: 

Comprehensively, Cronkite's work was more than simple news reporting. The CBS anchor represented the news for an entire generation of Americans. In 1972, a public poll indicated that he was the "Most Trusted Man in America." From there, Cronkite was recognized as the "Most Trusted Man in Television News," even after his retirement on March 6th, 1981. 

Furthermore, Arizona State University continued his legacy through the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Today, this institution continues to motivate the next generation of journalists. Cronkite was also inducted into the Television Hall of Fame as the second newsman in history. Overall, Cronkite represented what journalism could be, showcasing a standard that inspired many to come.

"And that's the way it is." - Walter Cronkite

AI DISCLAIMER: Claude AI conducted research and placed the information into script form. I edited the AI findings, adding proper format, links, and visual elements.

KEY POST - "Shock and Awe"

Shock and Awe

REFLECTION: 

INTRODUCTION:

Given the current state of our U.S. military and governmental decisions, JOU: Never Stay Silent continues to dissect the politics and journalistic approach to war reporting. In accordance with our course topics, the film, Shock and Awe, was able to climax a recurring historical pattern. 

In 2003 and now in 2026, the federal government continues to beat the drums of war while drafting claims of nuclear invasion. Shock and Awe highlighted the operational orders of the George W. Bush administration, particularly their decision to invade Iraq. 

Former President Bush
Addressing the Nation

The movie's primary characters were the Knight-Ridder News journalists. Knight-Ridder News was depicted as an outlet attempting to uncover the truth behind U.S. military directives. The film foregrounds the immoral actions of the mainstream media, specifically their effort to spread government propaganda. These efforts created a journalistic battle of inconsistent reporting. 

PRESS BEHAVIOR:

Following an analysis of Shock and Awe, a persistent concept was the behavior of press outlets. With the depiction of both news organizations, Knight-Ridder News and the main media outlets had distinct approaches. 

Knight-Ridder News focused on journalism ethics, serving as a watchdog to governmental corruption and fabrication. This newsroom was dedicated to uncovering the truth from insider sources. The journalists worked tirelessly to provide the American public with veracity, rather than blindly backing governmental claims.

Mainstream Media Outlets

On the other hand, mainstream media sources, such as The New York Times, continued to publish an echo of supposed Iraq-powered missile strikes and the government's warning of "threats" to national security. These outlets allowed disinformation to infiltrate their papers' publications, invading the minds of the American public. Outlets similar to The Washington Post were getting these updates straight from the George W. Bush Administration, setting the tone for societal opinion and blindness.

As uncovered in JOU: Never Stay Silent, the press's original objective was to support the public's voice, uncover government propaganda, provide reliable information on global events, and publish stories without the prevalence of political bias. With new business models and journalistic philosophies, the intention quickly shifted from honesty to financial gain.

PRESS V. GOVERNMENT CONFLICT:

In accordance with the pre-war period, natural conflict erupts between the press and the federal government. Presidential administrations, specifically the Commander-in-Chief, often expect the media to follow their initiatives, serving as a megaphone to spread their "insights." Once sources highlight an opposing narrative, the government indirectly silences these perceived "criticisms." Questions, concerns, and inconsistencies are left unresolved.

Jonathan Landay and Warren Strobel

CONFLICT BETWEEN JOURNALISTS:

With the Knight Ridder journalists' distinctive path, conflict intensifies among industry associates. Emotions of outrage erupt from the public and other journalists as publications continue to contradict one another.

With certain outlets unleashing anti-war sentiments and others expressing eager anticipation, the public is left in a state of confusion. These disagreements were viewed during a scene with Jonathan Landay and Warren Strobel. The two characters were enjoying a barbecue when a slight altercation erupted with two other men. Landay and Strobel attempted to back their outlets' findings, while the opposition argued using the claims of FOX News. This example highlights the effects placed on public opinion and resulting polarization. 

JOURNALISTIC HEROES:

In the film, the Knight Ridder journalists are depicted as heroes. This source uncovered the political facts rather than catering to one side of our already polarized nation. Therefore, the Knight Ridder's ethical conduct should be viewed as enlightening rather than threatening. As U.S. citizens, we must be informed on the TRUTH of governmental actions for our own education, critical thinking, and uprisings. As a result, the public, at large, should positively recognize these efforts and work to eliminate their own confirmation bias.

Former President Bush and
Current President Trump

PARALLELS BETWEEN 2003 AND 2026:

With the observations made in Shock and Awe, there were direct correlations between 2003 and 2026. In 2003, the Bush Administration was proclaiming that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and intended to strike the United States. Now in 2026, the Trump Administration is sending a parallel message with Iran as the primary aggressor. 

Now, there are similar tensions between journalists and the government. A distinct separation arises between the pro-war and anti-war voices.  The ability to analyze Shock and Awe highlighted the correlation between past military decisions and those occurring twenty-three years later.

As a result of the film, our current journalists should lead in accordance with the Knight Ridder news. The movie depicted the importance of honest and comprehensive publications, providing a hindsight 20/20. Overall, these historical events continue to underscore the significance of precaution, transparency, governmental oversight, and journalism ethics.