The Political Performers: CBS Broadcasts in the Public Interest

(Hardback)

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Thirty years after his death, Edward R. Murrow is still a cult figure in American broadcast journalism, and his company has achieved the distinction of standard bearer in the field of broadcast news. This examination of key CBS broadcasts and the people behind them that helped to establish the network as the prototype for excellence provides a unique perspective on the early era of broadcasting. Included are interviews with major contributors such as former CBS News presidents Fred W. Friendly and Bill Leonard. Going beyond personalities, the specific focus is on major broadcasts, from the early era up to the present-day 60 Minutes, some of which have been overlooked in spite of their formative role in helping CBS to gain its reputation in the field.

Reviews

.,."a well-researched, heavily footnoted, and quite readable volume. The book will be particularly useful to teachers of journalism and mass communication as an accompanying volume when viewing the programs. Early in the book, Murphy provides a list of more than twenty-five books and three documentaries about CBS News. This list and an impressive bibliography of books, and selected articles will be welcome aids to faculty searching for material to use in the classrooms."-Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly
...a well-researched, heavily footnoted, and quite readable volume. The book will be particularly useful to teachers of journalism and mass communication as an accompanying volume when viewing the programs. Early in the book, Murphy provides a list of more than twenty-five books and three documentaries about CBS News. This list and an impressive bibliography of books, and selected articles will be welcome aids to faculty searching for material to use in the classrooms.-Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly
This book will be warmly received by Murrow devotees. In addition, despite its stand-up-and-cheer approach it is a vital resource to broadcast historians and their students from its success in bringing life, texture, and color to one network's 'Golden Age'.-American Journalism
"This book will be warmly received by Murrow devotees. In addition, despite its stand-up-and-cheer approach it is a vital resource to broadcast historians and their students from its success in bringing life, texture, and color to one network's 'Golden Age'."-American Journalism
..."a well-researched, heavily footnoted, and quite readable volume. The book will be particularly useful to teachers of journalism and mass communication as an accompanying volume when viewing the programs. Early in the book, Murphy provides a list of more than twenty-five books and three documentaries about CBS News. This list and an impressive bibliography of books, and selected articles will be welcome aids to faculty searching for material to use in the classrooms."-Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly

Author Bio

MICHAEL D. MURRAY is Director of Mass Communications and Acting Chairman of the Department of Communication at the University of Missouri at St. Louis. He is a former president of the American Journalism Historians Association and was recently awarded the Distinguished Broadcast Journalism Educator Award from the Radio-Television Journalism Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications and the Missouri Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. He is the co-editor (with Anthony J. Ferri) of Teaching Mass Communication (Praeger, 1992).