Americans have now heard the news Walter Cronkite has died. Living to be nearly 93 years old, and setting the standards in your field to a level never before or since your tenure, doing what you loved, is a pretty good run.
This blogger arrived in the world on the same date Cronkite started as a television news anchor, so many personal views formed growing up were framed by his nightly reporting. This transition followed first wire and then radio news coverage, and as someone truly embedded with troops during war time. Funny a college drop out could become the most trusted voice in our country, based on his professional experience and approach to objective reporting -- rather than simply putting a happy face on whatever was occurring. Funny this was someone just doing his job as a news reporter, instead of a cleric or politician or community activist.
His presence and style are so pervasive they are seen in something as simple as Keith Olbermann keeping American's knowledgable about how many days our troops are in Iraq after W proclaimed "mission accomplished" -- Cronkite began closing his nightly reports with the number of days hostages had been held in Iran. In some countries, the chief talking head isn't an anchor, rather a Cronkiter.
After a mandatory retirement at age 65, he transitioned to the internet writing on occasion for the Huffington Post. He may be the genesis of the label for "liberal journalism" as he was outspoken about not providing all political candidates free airtime, stating this allowed those with money to buy elections. He worried about our democracy -- government for the people, by the people -- when it became the norm for a photogenic face to report commentary or opinion as news, from sources that reinforced our own biases. He received numerous awards, including the 1970 "Freedom of the Press" and "Project Faith and Freedom" from the Interfaith Alliance (as well as having a school of journalism named after him), believing a free press separate from a single state religious doctrine was crucial to our nation.
One could argue objective journalism died before the internet and before Uncle Walter. "And that's the way it is...." is a great standard to strive for in relaying what's happening in our world today, where ever you are. But, then again, this blog is just opinion and commentary.