It’s a good thing we don’t have any wars, economic catastrophes, environmental meltdowns – important things that need coverage so people can understand what in hell is going on, so there is time to copy stories from the supermarket check-out tabloids.

How far we have fallen, indeed…

– Badtux the News Penguin

It essentially shows that Americans have forgotten what a newscaster is under the current corporate reign, because he’s a commentator, not a reporter. I agree that he probably understands the actual news better than the readers on the major outlets, but face it, most of his best stuff is written by people who have been told that they are reporters, rather than the truth – they are comedy writers in need of editors.

Dick Cavett is actually the precursor to Jon Stewart, but most people don’t know who he was.

Jon Stewart The New Cronkite? Time Poll Shows He’s The Most Trusted Newscaster In America

This is the money comment:

Not to take away from Stewart’s accomplishments, but it does speak volumes about the way the American people view the major networks and their “news” departments — and that they would take the word of a comedian more seriously than high profile, highly paid network news anchors.

Yeah… what I said. Jon (and a few other’s like him) are the old Court Jesters. What a sad world when the only way to get truth in news is via comedy. One thing I like about Jon is that he does real interviews and becomes a *real* reporter when someone of interest releases a book so he can do an on-air *review*. 😉 I sometimes wonder if he has a hand in commissioning some of the books written that appear on TDS. 😀 (It really wouldn’t surprise me). And then he get’s serious sometimes (though he may throw in a joke or two to keep in character) when interviewing someone, lake Couric a couple weeks ago. 🙂

He never gave an opinion while sitting in the news chair, he insisted on rendering all opinions in separate programs. He was an old school straight reporter.

There is no equivalent currently available on television. You either get stenography or opinion, although Christiane Amanpour of CNN can come close, which is why she is rarely on television anymore.

He lasted because he played as hard as he worked, mostly sailing in the Atlantic.

Sadly, we have to rely on people like Stewart and Colbert who can only get away with it by wrapping the news up in comedy, like the court jesters of old.

I’m amazed Mr. Cronkite lasted so long truthfully, he must have been very tough, even though he obviously had a huge heart. A very rare combination. 🙂

It’s hard for people in today’s media environment to understand, but for a lot of the country, it wasn’t true until Cronkite told you “That’s the way it is”. He was trusted, not because he never made a mistake, but because of the way he handled mistakes. He took responsibility for what he reported.

When he turned sour on Southeast Asia, there was no suggestion of attacking him, the way journalists are routinely attacked today, to attempt it would have been political suicide. LBJ was one of the toughest, bare-knuckle politicians to ever become President, but he wouldn’t fight a pronouncement from Walter Cronkite.

It’s hard to believe that there was a time when you could believe what was reported on network news, but there was, and it is sorely missed by those of us who remember that time.

The saddest part is that it’s one more voice of sanity and reason gone.

R.I.P. Sir.

I’m sad, sad, sad at the moment.
.-= ´s last blog ..And, that’s the way it was =-.