Walter Cronkite wasn't the Most Trusted Man in America? Q&A with author Joseph Campbell

"It's safe to say that Walter Cronkite was not the most trusted man in America, and it's safe to say he was not even the most trusted man among newsmen," says American University Professor Joseph Campbell, author of "Getting it Wrong".

Campbell says the 1972 survey that gave Cronkite the title of "Most Trusted Man" compared Cronkite with prominent politicians of the time, not newscasters, and so he "inevitably came out on top." He says CBS then used the survey results to promote the network.

"It was a way to tout Walter Cronkite as a source to go to for election coverage among the three networks," says Campbell.

Campbell sat down with ReasonTV's Nick Gillespie to discuss Cronkite and other myths propelled by the media.

Approximately 6 minutes.

Shot by Jim Epstein and Tracy Oppenheimer, and edited by Oppenheimer.

[markcarpenter]

Most trusted man in America back then? That's easy - Paul Harvey.

[legendre]

I had long been under the impression that Walter Cronkite was America's most-trusted news man. Thank you for stripping me of such illusions! :-)

[MichaelKerr]

I think this is interesting to a point but silly overall. In my opinion it's like pointing out that some guy has a 'World's Best Dad" coffee mug and is not actually the "World's Best Dad".

[RolfHartmann]

Trey Parker and Matt Stone are probably the two most trusted men in America today. The only truly non-partisan satirists with wide exposure.

[tmb]

I met both Cronkite AND Agnew (as well as Hugh Downs) at the Royal Oaks Golf and Country Club in Titusville, Florida during the Apollo missions when I was working as assistant to Pierre Lenders there. I can tell you without hesitation that BOTH were complete and total assholes.
Out of all the celebrities that stayed with us, those were the two that both staff and guests couldn't stand.
(Agnew didn't actually stay - he crashed the party. Cronkite bumped a Hollywood star out of his luxury suite.)

[chrishinman]

He's more trusted than these two clowns or anybody in this "opinion" news world we currently live in

[debbieritchie]

He’s accepted award and laughed about people would have to accept sin, laughing… Freemason ! He was BLACK HAT!!!!

[zvi]

The Viet Cong of South VietNam were competely destroyed. Of course, the North may have wanted it.

Viet Nam was not opportunistic, it was necessary, and I speak as someone who grew up expecting to fight there.

[honerdcouster]

Cronkite said Geraldo Rivera was the best ouch

[zvi]

The point was when he made the statement, then other newsmen went further and outright accused Johnson. He broke the dam.

[TiaSaysSo]

Interesting.Another Joseph Campbell talking about Myths.

[hamandchees]

A guess: To expose as false the "golden age" of media fallacy. The media may seem inane and partisan today, but the underlying message Nick pushes is that because of free markets and innovation the modern age of journalism is the best for the reach, speed and diversity of information at our finger tips.

A major market force in favor of the world's Cronkites was how constricted primary source information about the world use to be.

[alvinwren]

What's the purpose of criticism when the subject of the program is not around to comment? How about these criticizing someone who's still alive.
Coould it be they know the lawsuits that would follow? And let's not limit this thought to this why not ask this of all those who write books, articles, produce programs, etc., etc. about those who are dead. Regardless of these comments, Cronkite "was" respected by the public, as were others like Huntley & Brinkley.

[zvi]

Did he say "scums"? This is a disinterested academic?

[debbiemetke]

There really wasn't any substance to this interview. By the way, I met Cronkite and he was cordial, knowledgable and authentic.

[Kitswain]

Youtube title....Walter Cronkite I'm Glad To Sit On The Right Hand Of Satan.

[THEevildweeb]

I don't suppose this suddenly appears now due to Jeff Daniels opening monologue on HBO's The Newsroom, does it? Hmmmm, interesting.

[TimCallahan]

It seems clear that few journalists today even accept the fact / fiction distinction. They are doing very low-level creative writing under the influence of the French fad of deconstructionism as expressed by Prof. Jacques Derrida -- a fad that no longer even amuses French cafe society.