DEMOCRACY AROUND THE WORLD | Giving citizens a voice
01 June 2008
Introduction: Edward R. Murrow – Journalism at Its Best
(The following introduction is taken from the U.S. Department of State publication, Edward R. Murrow: Journalism at Its Best.)
Issued in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day, May 3, 2006, this publication showcases the life and career of eminent journalist and USIA director Edward R. Murrow. A free and independent media is one of the essential components of a democratic society, and Murrow's radio and TV programs provide excellent examples of how a leading reporter used his journalistic skills in the public's service in times of crisis: e.g., World War II and the McCarthy years. The publication also discusses Murrow's skill in employing the new media of his day – first radio, then TV – to develop new reporting formats that adhered to the profession's highest principles, as well as his coverage of the savage tactics behind Senator Joseph McCarthy's anti-Communist campaign.
