We need Edward R. Murrow back

[EstimatedProphet]

I watched Good Night and Good Luck again last night. It's even better the second time-the first time through I was focused on seeing the things I knew were coming, but last night I saw more of the things I didn't know about, and one of the things I realized was exactly how awake Murrow was:

Our history will be what we make it. And if there are any historians about fifty or a hundred years from now, and there should be preserved the kinescopes for one week of all three networks, they will there find recorded in black and white, or color, evidence of decadence, escapism and insulation from the realities of the world in which we live. I invite your attention to the television schedules of all networks between the hours of 8 and 11 p.m., Eastern Time. Here you will find only fleeting and spasmodic reference to the fact that this nation is in mortal danger. There are, it is true, occasional informative programs presented in that intellectual ghetto on Sunday afternoons. But during the daily peak viewing periods, television in the main insulates us from the realities of the world in which we live. If this state of affairs continues, we may alter an advertising slogan to read: LOOK NOW, PAY LATER.

EDWARD R. MURROW, RTNDA Convention, Chicago, October 15, 1958 (the whole speech is here)

Almost 50 years later, it it is more true now than it was then. We need a Murrow for this generation, someone who has captured the attention of the public, and still has the integrity to tell them the truth.

[Scribe]

1. He wouldn't get ratings and would be canceled.

The problem isn't the newscasters. It is with the viewers who don't want to watch serious programming. Put Edward R. Murrow against American Idol and who do you think wins?

[EstimatedProphet]

2. He used to win

A diet of sugar and candy is attractive for a while, but it eventually makes you sick. Murrow used to gather good ratings, but the population has been put on a diet of American Idol. The problem isn't that people really want to watch American Idol to the exclusion of everything else (some do, but not everyone), the problem is that 'news' has been in the hands of Geraldo and Billo, and people would rather watch American Idol than be lied to.

[Scribe]

3. Geraldo has always been a sideshow. Murrow won when there

were two network outlets in most markets. Cable now brings hundreds. I think it is impossible now for anyone to garner a huge audience.

"See It Now" could muster a major proportion of Americans as viewers. I mean 30% to 40% of all Americans. There are so many outlets now that no one commentator can or has gathered together an audience of even 10%.

I think it is now far harder for media people to influence America than it used to be and far easier for political leaders to reach the people. So, what we need is not a Murrow but a MLK or FDR type political leader who can capture the public attention and re-ignite people's dedication to the higher ideals of Jefferson and Lincoln.

We are seeing an enormous failure of leadership but it is not media leadership that is needed. It is political. And so far, I see no political leader capable of inspiring America.

[EstimatedProphet]

4. The overabundance of media outlets is is a big problem

It was sold to us as an increase in information availability, but it works to decrease information transfer. There's so many channels out there that most people never get to hear of information sources that will actually look into what is going on. Olbermann tends toward what the standard should be IMO (witness his smackdown of Oreilly about the soldiers at Malmedy), but what good is it if no one knows he's there? And yes, we also need a good leader that is inspirational, another Kennedy or JFK. they go hand in hand in my opinion, because if we had a good leader with the media climate we have now, he'd be crucified for fun. Look what happened to Clinton, and he was only beginning to touch on the things we need to explore.