[BradyLS]

I always marveled how anchors could stretch their tenures, years into decades (like an east-bloc premier), as if it made their lies any more palatable. Popular shows would come and go, but Cronkite, Reasoner, Brinkley, Brokaw, Rather, Jennings, and McNeil-Lehrer would just drone on and on, night after night.

[relictele]

If you’re like me, and if you’re posting here you probably are, the mere idea of being told what to think is risible. Being comfortable with, even eager, to be told what to think is even more risible.

Yet millions of Americans now and over the decades were quite content to have newsreaders (for that’s all they were) assume an air of authority, even moral rectitude. To this day 20/20 and 60 Minutes are still popular with people who should know better.

[relictele]

If you’re like me, and if you’re posting here you probably are, the mere idea of being told what to think is risible. Being comfortable with, even eager, to be told what to think is even more risible.

Yet millions of Americans now and over the decades were quite content to have newsreaders (for that’s all they were) assume an air of authority, even moral rectitude. To this day 20/20 and 60 Minutes are still popular with people who should know better.

[hinckley buzzard]

Twentieth century America had a long tradition of relying on highly trusted news casters to keep them informed, beginning with radio demigods like Edward R Morrow, William Shirer, John Cameron Swayze. That carried over into the TV era with the invention of the onscreen anchor. No one suspected them of being dishonest demagogs.