“Goodnight and Good Luck” Response Paper
By Emily Rasmussen
Edward R. Murrow was a brave man. His belief in getting the facts and the news to the viewers, is based on the foundation of what journalism was founded on. He recognized that sometimes the news and the events that happen in our world are not always fluffy and sugar coated. But that doesn’t make it any less important for us to know. Unfortunately, during Murrow’s time, sponsors and network executives didn’t always recognize this importance. They were afraid of showing unpleasant stories to the public. This forced censoring of television journalism is what Murrow fought against, and what he helped journalism overcome in a big way. “But I am seized with an abiding fear regarding what these two instruments are doing to our society, our culture and our heritage.” (Murrow)
Television journalism functioned differently then print, as it still does today. With television journalism you were able to show viewers the story, able to show them what’s happening; the feelings/emotions plastered on victims faces’, the heated debate take took place at a court hearing. With print the most effective way to sell the papers was to rely on clever wording, correct grammar, and a snazzy headline to grasp people’s attention and/or to get your point across. Television was still new and trying to earn the credibility that print had already established.
Television broadcasts like Murrow’s was considered very risky compared to the stories that you found in print. As a journalist you were required to tread lightly on certain subjects, so as not to upset or possibly offend certain people. “But that would be unpleasant. And we must at all costs shield the sensitive citizens from anything that is unpleasant.” (Murrows)
Today, the media has a lot more freedom than they did during Murrow’s time. His determination to show the truth to the public paved the way for other journalists today. Without his gutsy broadcasts, we wouldn’t be able to report on public officials affairs, or on people questioning those in office in general if it hadn’t been for Murrow. “I am entirely persuaded that the American public is more reasonable, restrained and more mature than most of our industry's program planners believe. Their fear of controversy is not warranted by the evidence.” (Murrow)
As a fellow journalist, I am grateful to Murrow for not being afraid, for sticking to his intuition, and to what he believed in. We so easily forget those who paved the way before us, and the obstacles that they had to overcome so that we can continue to do what we love today.
