The Political Performers: CBS Broadcasts in the Public Interest

by Michael Murray

Overview

Thirty years after his death, Edward R. Murrow is still a cult figure in American broadcast jourbanalism, and his company has achieved the distinction of standard bearer in the field of broadcast news. This examination of key CBS broadcasts and the people behind them that helped to establish the network as the prototype for excellence provides a unique perspective on the early era of broadcasting. Included are interviews with major contributors such as former CBS News presidents Fred W. Friendly and Bill Leonard. Going beyond personalities, the specific focus is on major broadcasts, from the early era up to the present-day 60 Minutes, some of which have been overlooked in spite of their formative role in helping CBS to gain its reputation in the field.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275944902
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	05/30/1994
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.62(d)
Lexile:	1660L (what's this?)

About the Author

MICHAEL D. MURRAY is Director of Mass Communications and Acting Chairman of the Department of Communication at the University of Missouri at St. Louis. He is a former president of the American Jourbanalism Historians Association and was recently awarded the Distinguished Broadcast Jourbanalism Educator Award from the Radio-Television Jourbanalism Division of the Association for Education in Jourbanalism and Mass Communications and the Missouri Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. He is the co-editor (with Anthony J. Ferri) of Teaching Mass Communication (Praeger, 1992).

Table of Contents

The CBS Tradition
War of Words
Murrow: Radio Days
Civil Liberties
Coming of Age
Muckraking
Youth Movement
Military Matters
Urban Questions
Most Trusted
Pastor of Public Affairs
Carrying On
Afterword
Appendices
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Murray (communication, U. of Missouri-St. Louis) explores some key news and public affairs broadcasts and the people behind them, providing a perspective on the early era of broadcasting, and analyzing how these broadcasts altered attitudes and decision-making in their day and sometimes over an extended period of time. Broadcast subjects include civil liberties, the youth movement, and muckraking. Includes b&w photos. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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