dispatches from the new world of work

Remembering Walter Cronkite

I remember growing up with Walter Cronkite. My family used to sit and listen attentively to what Mr Cronkite had to say. He was considered the voice of authority in our home. Of all the news reporters that have come and gone over the years, Walter Cronkite's voice is the one I can still hear in my head. I think about Cronkite's brand, and I realize that it was consistent throughout the years. He was known to be honest, straightforward, factual, fair, and credible. I recall him covering President Kennedy's death, Martin Luther King's death, the space shuttle mission, and many other events. You knew that when Cronkite delivered the news, you would get the truth in an unbiased way.

Walter Cronkite's brand was consistent through the years; that's why he became known as "the most trusted man" in America. Cronkite's brand created a loyal following of viewers who will always remember him and his grace under pressure.

And that's the way it is.

Val Willis posted this on 07/20/09.

Comments

... the way it was, and never shall be again. Truly one of a kind, THE pioneer of television news.

Posted by Dan Gunter at July 20, 2009 5:07 PM

Val, his brand was so strong it took me a few minutes to recall his competition. But Huntley-Brinkley were as popular as Cronkite (if I remember correctly) in the early 60s on NBC - later replaced by John Chancellor. ABC seemed to always be in 3rd place although I remember Harry Reasoner as very credible. I still prefer that era of TV news anchors to the present - but I'd also take the Rather-Brokaw-Jennings troika over what we have today. (I don't think I can rationally explain why.) And then there's the cable news outlets, but the less said about the anchor/hosts there the better.

Posted by John O'Leary at July 20, 2009 6:16 PM

I think it speaks volumes for his brand that Walter Cronkite's voice was instantly recognisable OUTSIDE of the US by people who would not normally be viewers.

Posted by PaulH at July 21, 2009 9:53 AM

He was America's finest journalist. Extremely professional. Good example of excellence.

Posted by Andres Agostini (Andy) at July 22, 2009 12:15 AM

Just happen to be reading Bob Schieffer's biography right now, very interesting. His comment about Walter Cronkite was that he had the most curiousity and the greatest passion about being a journalist of anyone Schieffer had ever worked with. Frequent qualities we talk about on this blog for creating excellence. Cronkite had a Wow! quality (and brand) about his journalism.

Posted by Bruce at July 22, 2009 9:21 AM

Let us not forget that Walter almost single-handedly turned the WASPs and middle-Americans against the Viet Nam war. When he decided it was a bad idea and the US had to leave, America felt it was OK to share that opinion and the country started down that road. The fact that the same thing did not happen after Walter came out against the Iraq War and the Bush administration speaks to how much the country has changed in the past 40 years.

Posted by emma at July 24, 2009 7:59 AM