“This . . . is London.” With those trademark words, crackling over the airwaves from a city in the midst of blitzkrieg, Edward R. Murrow began a journalistic career that has had no equal. From the opening days of World War II through his death in 1965, Murrow had an unparalleled influence on broadcast journalism. His voice was universally recognized, and a generation of radio and television newsmen emulated his style. Murrow’s pioneering television documentaries have more than once been credited with changing history, and to this day his name is synonymous with courage and perseverance in the search for truth.
In 1937, Edward R. Murrow was sent by CBS to set up a network of correspondents to report on the gathering storm in Europe. He assembled a group of young reporters whose names soon became household words in wartime America, among whom were William Shirer, Charles Collingwood, Bill Shael, and Howard K. Smith. The group, which came to be known collectively as “Murrow’s Boys,” reported the whole of World War II from the front lines with a courage and loyalty inspired by Murrow’s own fearlessness. During the war Murrow flew in more than twenty bombing missions over Berlin, and along with Bill Shadel was the first Allied correspondent to report the horrors from the Nazi death camps.
Returning to America after the war, Murrow was surprised to find that his overseas reports had made him a star at home. With the advent of television, Murrow was approached to host a weekly program. Along with his associate, Fred Friendly, Murrow had been producing a popular radio show, Hear It Now. The television show was to be called See It Now. Joe Wershba, a reporter who worked closely with Murrow, remembers, “Neither of them knew anything about film making or television. All they knew was they wanted to do stories. Important stories.” Television was in its infancy and Murrow and Friendly had to learn the process of filmmaking and the primitive television equipment on the job.
Murrow’s love of common America led him to seek out stories of ordinary people. He presented their stories in such a way that they often became powerful commentaries on political or social issues. See It Now consistently broke new ground in the burgeoning field of television journalism. In 1953, Murrow made the decision to investigate the case of Milo Radulovich. Radulovich had been discharged from the Air Force on the grounds that his mother and sister were communist sympathizers. The program outlined the elements of the case, casting doubt on the Air Force’s decision, and within a short while, Milo Radulovich had been reinstated. This one edition of See It Now marked a change in the face of American journalism and a new age in American politics.
Soon after the Milo Radulovich program aired, it was learned that Senator Joseph McCarthy was preparing an attack on Murrow. As it happened, Murrow himself had been collecting material about McCarthy and his Senate Investigating Committee for several years, and he began assembling the program. Broadcast on March 9, 1954, the program, composed almost entirely of McCarthy’s own words and pictures, was a damning portrait of a fanatic. McCarthy demanded a chance to respond, but his rebuttal, in which he referred to Murrow as “the leader of the jackal pack,” only sealed his fate. The combination of the program’s timing and its persuasive power broke the Senator’s hold over the nation. The entire fiasco, however, caused a rift with CBS, and they decided to discontinue See It Now.
By 1961 tensions had become irreparable between Murrow and CBS and he accepted an appointment from President Kennedy as the head of the United States Information Agency. He was only to have the job for three years before being diagnosed with lung cancer. In 1964 Murrow was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and in 1965 died on his farm in New York. Perhaps more than any reporter before or since, Murrow captured the trust and belief of a nation and returned that trust with honesty and courage. His belief in journalism as an active part of the political process and a necessary tool within democracy has forever altered the politics and everyday life of the American people.
For those revisionists and apologists for the infamous Senator McCarthy, these Communists were , for better or for worse, our allies in WWII. The horrors of the Stalin regime were kept from the public and only subsequently exposed by Kruschev.
Yet, Ruskies were demonized and any sympathizers were labeled ‘Pinkos’ and persecuted. Remember the Mujahideen, now the Taliban, were backed by us in their battle against the Soviet behemoth. But, now they are our mortal enemy. That’s why ‘Truth to Power’ as embodied by courageous journalists like Mr. Murrow is so vital to our democracy in protecting us from fear mongers such as Joe McCarthy.
Wow! In all respect under all the circumstances there is nothing wrong with telling the truth! For people with money and power to get ticked off and mess up a nice show it beyond me! Obviously there needs to be some changes to the way people listen, understand, and take in. McCarthy didn’t deserve all this Bull for telling the truth Mr. Senator did!
I’m glad to see someone finally “told the truth” about Murrow. Socialism which eventually leads to Communism has been proved time and again to be a failure. The means do not justify the end.
What is most important to remember is the movie ” Good Night and Good Luck ” is just that , a movie. It was produced by the Holywood Left and is meant to sway opinion. They did a good job.
Journalism is : who, what , when , where, how. Editorializing is not Journalism if it is not revealed as such. To date, we have swung so far to the left that true journalism has died. Reporters are to report, not make, nor sway an audience. Facts, just facts. It is up to the individual to process the facts. I don’t want to be told
what to think. The press of today and the past 10 years has and is allowing themselves to be an instrument to forward a political agenda. The press has fallen in love with an ideology and will either ask soft ball questions, not investigate thoroughly, or omit information. I now see reporters engage in an argument or bait people being interviewed. Ask the tough questions, follow up, do not allow someone to skirt an issue. Do not become the news, nor make the news…just report the news. Murrow was the beginning of a downward spiral leading to poor journalistic integrity of today.
@arocker
You have a very sick and twisted view of history. I feel sorry for you as you are finding yourself more and more in the minority. A minority of pathetic losers.
I have been a radio announcer for forty years, and Edward R. Murrow has always been my roll model.
This was a Man.
The ultimate award for journalism is the “Edward R Murrow Award”
Am I the only idiot to remember that Murrow was fired by Paley of CBS because he offended sponsors?
Murrow died as the head of USIA thanks to Jack Kennedy.
Watched the film and several newsreels in History. If only Murrow were still alive…The Herald Sun would be toast.
I remember watching some of the documentaries voice-recorded by Murrow. His narration’s incredible!
I love all the morons here proclaiming that it is somehow bad, in our country where we are FREE to have whatever political beliefs we wish, for someone to be a *gasp* communist.
I am not a communist, nor a socialist. But to talk about ‘rooting out’ communists in the government is ABSURD…absurd in a country where we are FREE to believe and even to WORK TOWARDS whatever political ideals we wish.
If you want someone blacklisted because they disagree with your politics, go join the Taliban, you clown of a teabagger.
Ed Murrow is an honest person, What I dont understand is why he says THIS…is London. (and by the way, there shouldn’t be a … in-between this and is as far as my research goes). I watched the video on youtube and I really enjoyed it. He is very courageous, and it takes honesty to be courageous.
I <3 u Ed Murrow! U rock!!!
Edward Murrow rocks he is my hero.
What a great man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Excuse me for barging in again…I wanted to comment on Murrow’s “This…is London” opening. The pause was the import element: “This…is London.” The emphasis was in the pause. Ed did not emphasize “THIS..” as indicated by one writer above. I asked Murrow about it, and that’s when I learned about his former teacher giving him the idea of the pause. He said he didn’t know where he’d be with that opening…or without his cigarette! He knew in 1960 that he was ill because of smoking, yet he felt compelled to take the USIA job under President Kennedy. Years later I talked with a couple of CBS newsmen who saw Murrow in his last days. They both said it was something they wished they’d never experienced…he was physically ruined by the chain smoking.
Looking back I can only conclude that Ed Murrow was the right man at the right time with all the right stuff.
And, how we could use him on the air today!
RSH
When I reflect back on the fact that Murrow was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, I am reminded of the greatness that was once the fabric of America. My how times have changed. If only there were more Murrow’s in the world today, we might not be headed in the direction that we are. I can’t think of any journalist today that compares.
Attorney Jim
CEO, htpp://attorneydirectoryofamerica.com
I remember his broadcast where he sent his volley of criticism to McCarthy. I had to shush my parents and tell them to listen, “This is important!” I said. When Keith Olberman did that show about Morrow, tears came to my eyes. Morrow should be right up there with Washington and Lincoln and Roosevelt.
To Bob Hale, who left a couple of reply’s above earlier: I’m so glad that there is someone today, who personally knew Edward R. Murrow. If you’re still in the Broadcast field, take up the Torch that Mr. Murrow carried. Speak in the manner of Mr. Murrow and ‘Tell IT like it is’. Bring back to us, the spirit of Edward R. Murrow: courage and the spirit of speaking the Truth. Those who do this WILL be remembered.
A very important informational note: Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert ARE NOT and NEVER HAVE BEEN JOURNALISTS! They are entertainers/comedians. That is why Jon Stewart’s program is on Comedy Central! Their “views” and “reporting of the news” is slanted, liberal satire…NOT NEWS! Edward R. Murrow would be rolling over in his grave to hear his name spoken in the same reference as these men.
Please people, educate yourselves and do not take what is offered up as entertainment as THE TRUTH. Read for yourself, search out the relevant facts on issues, watch FOX News, CNN, and NBC, ABC, and CBS news to get a balance of the “facts.” But never, ever, EVER take what a journalist tells you at face value. Use your brain and search for yourself.
If anything, Edward R. Murrow made Joseph McCarthy accountable for his actions. If he is to have this power the senate gives him, he needs to use it wisely and for purpose of the senate, and not for personal gain. He was the classic ‘don’t do as I do, do as I say’ example and was simply exposed and brought down by his own words. We were fortunate to have decent men and women who saw this behavior as unjust and wrong, and we need to not only thank them for having the guts to take on these people, but to also thank them for speaking the truth and give merit to and define what patriotism, in any country, should stand for.
Does anyone know the realtionship between Edward R. Murrow and Joseph MaCarthy ?!?!
Murrow was a commie sympathizer and I’m sure he’s rolling in his grave after his nemesis Joseph McCarthy has been vindicated over and over again. Murrow was wrong about McCarthy and so much more and his true legacy is that he founded the socialist, left-wing, hate-America media.
It would appear from studying that McCarthy was overly zealous in his attacks. Had he been better schooled in information gathering and more gentile in presenting it, he might have been taken seriously. Unfortunately, he was not. His approach came on too strong and evidently did harm some innocents.
It now appears some who felt McCarthy needed to continue his work feel Edward R. Murrow was a communist sympathizer for exposing him. Mr. Murrow need not be a communist sympathizer to seek the end of unfair treatment of American people. The exposing of McCarthy’s heavy handed tactics is not proof Mr. Murrow was a communist sympathizer, that needed to be done regardless.
I haven’t seen any of the movies mentioned previously, nor have I read any of the books. But I shall, and when I do, I’ll return and post more comments.
I originally found this site while seeking more info on a man I remember as a teenager who came across as a reporter who sought to report the truth, without external influence. He may have had some bias, and as a teenager I may not have been able to detect that, but I remember none. This country, USA, needs some reporters with backbone and insight to spread the truth about what is happening in America.
Were the banker bailouts really necessary?
What if that had not been done? What would America be like?
Obama swore it had to be or the whole country would collapse, was that true?
Did big money people behind the scenes threaten to kill his family if he didn’t go along?
Was it right for the supreme court to appoint a president in 2000?
Was JFK killed because he wanted to abolish the federal reserve?
Does the same fate await Ron Paul if he is elected?
Can we trust the election process since the last three have had voter irregularities?
Are communists infiltrating the education system and teaching socialist, communist values to our young?
Go to you tube and watch “Naked communism”
No nudity, just a video that takes a look at communism by posing a few questions.
Senator Joseph McCarthy was absolutely right about the people who were communists in the government. The release by the former Soviet Union of documents show that there were infiltrators in the government and were on the Soviet Union’s payroll.
Edward R. Murrow was too powerful himself and in many American’s eyes could do no wrong. He was influenced by the Communists as many were his friends. He may himself had been a member….we will never really know for sure. Murrow destroyed Senator McCarthy and McCarthy never really was allowed to defend himself. The media even then was being infiltrated with communist leaning liberals by the education they were getting in US colleges that were being taken over by the Communists.
Congressman Allen West just recently said that there are 80 card carrying members of the Communist party in the US Congress.
Communism is alive and well here in the USSA.
Steve, you have been duped by both the late Sen. McCarthy and Congressman West. McCarthy was a right wing (and drunk) fanatic who tried to destroy the lives of many great Americans (and unfortunately succeeded in destroying some of them).. You should be grateful for people like Edward Murrow for putting a stop to it, but prefer to smear him instead.
McCarthy was given SEVERAL chances to defend himself, but did not present a single name of a Communist in the State Dept when he was asked. He was afraid to do so, because then he would have been asked for facts and evidence and he preferred fear, paranoia, and hysteria instead.
I think your Allen West comment speaks volumes. Why haven’t any other Senators agreed with him? It is easier to make these reckless charges than to put efforts into solving the nation’s problems.
Lisa is right. McCarthy was a supreme hypocrite.
he was a baller i wish he didnt die
In recent years, there have been attempts by conservative authors and pundits to rehabilitate the late junior Senator from Wisconsin by saying that everything that has been said about McCarthy is all wrong, the historical record is wrong and that the record re-evaluated and corrected. The defenders of McCarthyism have gone so far as to suggest that Edward R. Murrow was a communist even though McCarthy had said as much in his rebuttal on See It Now in April of 1954. McCarthy didn’t back up his accusations with any evidence and his attempt to label Murrow as a communist sympathizer resulted in a further decline in his popularity.
In the beginning, McCarthy, I believe had started his anti-communist with the best of intentions and he did prove that there were communists in the government, but for him to continue his quest, innocent people had to be sacrificed for McCarthy’s own personal aggrandizement.
I have heard people who lived in that period refer to McCarthy as a bully, a blowhard, and demagogue of the worst kind and those who seek to rehabilitate and vindicate the late junior senator from Wisconsin seem to forget, ignore, or overlook the fact that the country got to see McCarthy in his own words and pictures and they were able to decide for themselves that what McCarthy was doing was wrong and was besmirching the image of this country of ours by making false accusations without proper regard for evidence and due process of law.