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Edward R. Murrow: History of Mass Media

This week's schedule includes a discussion on muckrakers, Edward R. Murrow, and the decline of muckraking. Learn about Murrow's achievements in radio and television news and why he is remembered today.

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Edward R. Murrow: History of Mass Media

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  1. JAMM 445 History of Mass Media Week 13: Edward R. Murrow

  2. Schedule update • Today: Muckrakers, cont. • Edward R. Murrow (early life) • Borah Symposium papers due, 5 p.m. • Wednesday: Murrow, cont., with Joseph Campbell (guest lecture via Skype) • Friday: NO CLASS; D. Brinkley papers due • Monday: Oral-history outline due • Introduction & main points • Follow-up questions

  3. TR & the Muckrakers • 1906: Roosevelt speech denounced reporters for attacking his friends • According to Douglas Brinkley: • Roosevelt admired reform journalism that offered solutions (Ida Tarbell & Standard Oil) • …but he feared anarchy, chaos, radical changes advocated by some writers

  4. Results of Muckraking • Meat Inspection Act (1906) • Pure Food & Drug Act (1907): control of patent medicines • Child labor laws, worker safety rules

  5. Why did muckraking decline? • Many problems were addressed… at least superficially Congress, states passed some reform laws • Public lost interest in investigative articles • Journalists tired of digging, moved on • Big business fought back with PR • World War I consumed Americans’ attention • War in Europe (1914), U.S. entered (1917)

  6. Edward R. Murrow Please write down on a half-sheet: • What was Murrow’s main achievement in radio? • What was his main contribution to TV news? • Why is Edward R. Murrow remembered today?

  7. Quote of the Day “Murrow set the highest standard for the reporting of news on radio and television. His facts were solid, his scope thorough, his analysis on target, and his principles uncompromised.” --Bob Edwards VIDEO: “American Masters,” PBS

  8. Murrow: Early life • 1908: Born, Polecat Creek, N.C. • Given name: Egbert Roscoe Murrow • 1913: Family moved to Blanchard, Wash. • 1925: Family moved to Beaver Creek (near Forks), Olympic Peninsula • 1926: Ed enrolls at Washington State College (now WSU)

  9. Murrow at WSC • Starts in business, changes major to speech • Debate team, theatre, ROTC • Student body president • Mentor: Ida Lou Anderson • 1930: Graduates, moves to New York • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QgWhUtpP6M

  10. Career at CBS • 1935: Director of talks • 1937: European director • Assigned to London • 1938: 1st news roundup • London, Vienna, Paris, Rome, Berlin • Murrow reported Hitler’s arrival in Vienna

  11. Murrow the journalist “The onetime champion debater and speech major was a radio natural. Murrow was personable, smart, knowledgeable, authoritative and pleasing to the ear. His career in education had been hijacked by journalism.” --Bob Edwards

  12. “This … is London” The Blitz • Aug. 24, 1940: German bombers attack England • (prelude to German invasion) • Sept. 21, 1940: Murrow’s 1st live broadcast during attack • http://www.archive.org/details/EdwardR.Murrow-LondonBlitz1940

  13. Murrow’s talents • Eloquent writer • Deep, resonant voice • Good judge of talent (‘Murrow Boys’) • Willing to take risks • Belief that Britain needed U.S. help to defeat Germany

  14. Post-World War II • Murrow returns to New York • ‘Hear it Now’ (radio) becomes ‘See it Now’ (TV) • Beginning of Red Scare

  15. Causes of the Red Scare • External (outside U.S.) • Communist control of China • Russia tests atomic bomb • Outbreak of Korean War (1950) • Internal (within U.S.) • Eisenhower’s election • GOP control of Congress • Fear of Communist infiltration, sabotage

  16. VIDEO: The Red Scare • The Fifties: The Witchhunter • Based on David Halberstam book

  17. Joseph McCarthy • Senator from Wisconsin • Elected 1946, re-elected 1952 • Found niche as ‘Red Hunter’ • Chair, Senate Committee on Internal Security

  18. Joseph McCarthy “I have here in my hand a list of 205 names who were known to the Secretary of State as being members of the Communist Party and who are still working in the State Department” --Feb. 9, 1950

  19. McCarthy’s tactics • Exploited newspapers’ deadlines • Made charges not easily refuted • Never produced actual list of names

  20. Edward R. Murrow • Annoyed at McCarthy’s bulling tactics • Challenged McCarthy in two programs, 1954

  21. Quote of the Day McCarthy “didn’t create this situation of fear, he merely exploited it – and rather successfully. Cassius was right: ‘The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our starts but in ourselves.’” --Edward R. Murrow, March 9, 1954

  22. Quote of the Day “The broadcast was a devastating indictment of McCarthy and his methods, allowing the senator to hang himself with his own words and actions, then punctuated by Murrow’s pointed rebuttal.” --Bob Edwards

  23. Reading for Wednesday • Voices of a Nation, Chapter 15 • pp. 435-440 • Getting It Wrong, Chapter 3 • “Murrow vs. McCarthy: Timing Makes the Myth”

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