"And That's The Way It WAS!"

Written June 27

There are not many among us who can remember the days when Walter Cronkite ended each broadcast of the CBS Evening News with the iconic sign-off: "And that's the way it is."

In the days when CBS dominated news coverage, Cronkite was considered the most trusted person in America. I can still remember him holding our collective hands in the hours and days following JFK's assassination. And his almost giddy, child-like enthusiasm when Neil Armstrong was taking man's first stroll on the surface of the moon. In fact, many would argue that Cronkite's weekly Vietnam casualty counts fueled the anti-war movement and ultimately brought an end to that painful chapter in America's history.

My "waxing nostalgic" was prompted by yet another report released today showing the continued free-fall of network news audiences. Cable news outlets now have a collective 58% share of all news viewing...up from 54% just a year ago. Most notably, CBS Evening News has lost 27% of its audience since the last presidential election. One can easily surmise that this may be the final year that the major networks report on presidential elections as they have become irrelevant in the face of 24-hour coverage and immediate e-mail bulletins.

This post is not to argue for a return to the "good old days." Yet, it sometimes feels as if the unfettered, constant access to news dampens the spirit and, quite often, fuels our most base fears. Plus, the increasingly vitriolic partisan "reporting" (on both sides) is, I believe, creating a culture of cynicism (and cruelty) that is numbing.

Yes, I think dialogue is important in a free society. But sometimes, it would just be nice to have Walter telling me that everything will be all-right just for today...instead of Bill O'Reilly giving me tonight's "pin-head" report.

ds