Edward R. Murrow

Edward R. Murrow (Famous TV journalist and producer - died 1965)

"Edward R. Murrow is the most distinguished and renowned figure in the history of American broadcast journalism. He was a seminal force in the creation and development of electronic newsgathering as both a craft and a profession. Murrow's career began at CBS in 1935 and spanned the infancy of news and public affairs programming on radio through the ascendancy of television in the 1950s, as it eventually became the nation's most popular news medium. In 1961, Murrow left CBS to become director of the United States Information Agency for the new Kennedy administration. By that time, his peers were already referring to a "Murrow legend and tradition" of courage, integrity, social responsibility, and journalistic excellence, emblematic of the highest ideals of both broadcast news and the television industry in general."..

"Married: Janet Huntington Brewster, 1934; one son. Served as assistant director of the Institute of International Education, 1932-35; began career with CBS as director of talks and education, 1935; became director of CBS' European Bureau in London, 1937; during World War II, hired and trained distinguished corps of war correspondents, including Eric Sevareid, Howard K. Smith, Charles Collingwood, and Richard C. Hottelet; returned to U.S. as CBS vice-president and director of public affairs, 1946; resigned to return to radio broadcasting, 1947; narrated and produced Hear It Now radio series, 1950-51; brought series to television as See It Now, 1951-58; began Person to Person television program in 1953; moderated and produced Small World, television series featuring discussions among world figures, 1958-60; appointed by President John F. Kennedy to head U.S. Information Agency (USIA) in 1961, and remained in post until 1964. Recipient: nine Emmy Awards." (see link for further info)

Related Sourcewatch articles

 * Edward R. Murrow Journalism Program
 * Council on Foreign Relations: Edward R. Murrow Press Fellowship