IT HAS BEEN five days since the passing of Walter Cronkite. In our information-overload society there isn’t much that hasn’t already been said about him.
Obituaries, news articles and columns have told the story of his life from his growing up days in St. Joe, to working in Kansas City and then working at the CBS news anchor desk from 1962-1981. He moved a nation with his news reporting and inspired legions of journalists with his straight and honest approach to his profession.
Walter Cronkite made a stop in Emporia for two days in 1996 when he narrated a movie on William Allen White that was being produced by Bill Hoch of Flinthills Films.
For Cronkite, coming to Emporia was more than a job; he came to pay homage to William Allen White, a journalist that had inspired him. He toured the William Allen White house, The Gazette and sites around town. He kept saying how honored he was to be here and spend time.
Journalism has changed a lot since Cronkite’s days on the anchor desk and we talked about how he was not happy with where broadcast journalism was going.
Cronkite came from an era in which accurate news reporting combined with integrity was of utmost importance. Today, broadcast journalism is more about ratings: who can report it first and sensationalize it the most.
William Allen White was an inspiration to Cronkite and Cronkite was an inspiration to legions of journalists today. As time moves forward, let’s hope that the lessons from the past of accurate, unbiased reporting are not just a footnote in history.
Chris Walker
Editor & Publisher