Many
historians consider Edward R. Murrow the greatest journalist of all time. In an
age where "the news" has become a major entertainment industry, Edward
R. Murrow stands out as a shining example of the honesty and integrity many feel
today's field of journalism generally lacks. Murrow first gained attention during
World War II when millions listened to his radio broadcasts covering the war.
In the early 1950's Murrow's TV news program, See It Now, bravely addressed
many controversial topics. The most significant was using his program to stand
up to Senator Joe McCarthy, who had helped to plunge America into an era of fear
and reckless witchhunts for communists in American government, the entertainment
industry and civil society at large.
With
the release of the Oscar-nominated 2005 film, Good Night and Good Luck,
new generations of Americans were introduced to this hero journalist. Many viewers
couldn't help to draw parallels from that dark chapter in American history to
our current state of affairs. The film reminded them all too clearly that there
doesn't seem to be a comparable mainstream journalist today. But it also inspired
hope that perhaps reminding
America about Edward R. Murrow's bravery in persevering for truth and freedom
despite the backlash that he suffered for standing up against McCarthy and the
corporations and government institutions that supported him, would inspire new
generations of journalists to do the same.
