Edward R. Murrow set the standard for television journalism that continues to challenge and inspire today's television newspersons. He used television as a medium to educate the public about the movements of governments and culture. In the formative years of television, Murrow established a high standard of professionalism and quality that continues to challenge modern broadcasters.
Edward R. Murrow was born as Egbert Roscoe Murrow on April 25, 1908, near Polecat Creek in Guilford County, North Carolina. Murrow began his collegiate career in 1926 attending three separate universities: Leland Stanford University, the University of Washington, and Washington State College. By the time he graduated in 1930 with a major in speech, Egbert R. Murrow had changed his name to Edward R. Murrow.
In 1935, Murrow joined CBS as Director of Talks and Education but was transferred as chief of the European Bureau two years later to London. Initially his task in London was to arrange cultural programs, but the coming of World War II dramatically changed his role. When war was declared, Murrow reported firsthand, beginning his broadcast with the phrase that would become his hallmark, "This is London."
Many of Murrow's broadcasts during the Battle of Britain were punctuated by the sounds of air raid sirens or bomb explosions. The CBS offices in London and the BBC studios from which Murrow made his broadcasts were bombed at least once. On a few occasions, he gave his broadcast from the roof of a building during a raid to report an eye witness account of what Britain was enduring. Murrow returned to the United States at the conclusion of the war in 1945 and was promoted to Vice-President of News, Education, and Discussion Programs, at CBS but resigned the position in 1947. Later that same year, Murrow resumed broadcasting and in 1949 was elected a Director of CBS.
The year 1950 brought the beginning of the Korean War, and Murrow traveled there to report on the war. His reports mentioned the major events of the day but also focused on the individuals caught up in the sweep of the struggle. Murrow won widespread acclaim the way he related the life of the common soldier in Korea.
Murrow's initial foray into television was as the on-camera host of the news and public affairs program, See It Now. This series was an adaptation of radio's popular Hear It Now. See It Now premiered in a half-hour format on November 18, 1951. By April 20, 1952, See It Now had been moved to prime-time where it stayed until July 1955, typically averaging around 3 million viewers. After that point, See It Now was expanded to an hour but telecast more irregularly on a special-events basis. It became very popular by bringing the public into such previously unfilmed areas as a submerged submarine, a fighter plane during air defense exercises, and a session of the Arkansas General Assembly. During the creation and rise of See It Now, Murrow continued to report the news from the Korean conflict.
Through the course of its run, See It Now was awarded four Emmys for Best News or Public Service Program. Many of its broadcasts were considered breakthroughs for the medium of television. For example, "This is Korea...Christmas 1952" was produced on-location "to try to portray the face of the war and the faces of the men who are fighting it." Murrow's most-celebrated piece was his March 9, 1954 telecast, in which he engaged Senator Joseph R. McCarthy in a program "told mainly in [McCarthy's] own words and pictures." This courageous and controversial broadcast dramatically recalled in the contemporary film, “Good Night and Good Luck,” was widely regarded as the beginning of the end of Senator McCarthy’s influence.
Edward R. Murrow also produced lighter, less controversial fare for television. His most popular success was his hosting of Person to Person (1953-61) where he chatted informally with a wide array of celebrities every Friday during prime-time. Murrow remained with this program through the 1958-59 season, "visiting" such people as Harry Truman, Marilyn Monroe, and John Steinbeck in their homes. Murrow won an Emmy for being the Most Outstanding Personality in all of television after Person to Person's inaugural season. Additionally, he received four other individual Emmys for Best News Commentator or Analyst.
In 1960, Murrow produced, “Harvest of Shame,” which depicted the many hardships that plagued migrant farm workers. Aired on Thanksgiving day, Murrow's documentary shocked the country, and brought a call for legislation to protect the workers whose labor helped to fill supermarket shelves.
Murrow's success in broadcasting and television production made him a household name. Retiring from CBS in 1961, Murrow was appointed by President John F. Kennedy to lead the U.S. Information Agency. He held that position until 1964 when he retired due to lung cancer. Edward R. Murrow died on April 27, 1965, at the age of 57, on his farm in Pawling, New York.
There is a small plaque in the lobby of the CBS headquarters in New York City which contains the image of Murrow and the inscription: "He set standards of excellence that remain unsurpassed." During his 25-year career he made more than 5000 broadcasts. More than anyone else, he established the traditions for television news.
