Newsradio Concordance

Edward R. Murrow (1908 - 1965) - Edward R. Murrow was one of the first broadcast journalists to become a household name and is therefore considered the archetypal news anchor. His effectiveness as a newsman came to light during the late 1930s when his overseas broadcasts brought attention to the dangers of Fascism and Hitler’s Third Reich. Murrow’s prescience in the matter of impending war gave him an air of authority that he would never relinquish. When Murrow made his transition to the new medium of television in 1951, his demeanor and delivery left an indelible stamp on what it means to anchor a news program. For decades to come, most national news figures seemed to share some aspect of Murrow’s style. His dramatic pauses, inflection, and even his catchphrase “Good night and good luck” have all been subject to imitation by younger journalists.

For better or for worse, Murrow’s influence in the news industry extended beyond his delivery. Sometimes, rather than merely covering a story, he would become part of it. Most famously, he was instrumental in discrediting Senator Joseph McCarthy after the congressman seemed to let his investigations into “un-American” activities go too far. By becoming news as well as reporting it, Murrow can be called one of the first activist journalists.

Bill McNeill of WNYX has sited Murrow several times as the standard of good, hard-hitting journalism. Beyond the occasional outbursts of media activism (i.e. The Real Deal with Bill McNeill) and his precise manner of speech, McNeill shares very little in common with Murrow in regard to formulating and swaying public opinion. Perhaps what they have most in common is their love for smoking, even while on the air. Murrow’s publicity shots rarely show him without a cigarette faithfully in hand, and he even said once that, "I doubt I could spend a half hour without a cigarette with any comfort or ease." Likewise, Bill has been known to puff during broadcasts despite increasingly stricter laws prohibiting indoor smoking. [Houses of the Holy, The Real Deal, The Song Remains the Same]