The Murrow Boys: Pioneers on the Front Lines of Broadcast Journalism [B1356]

1996 PB in nice clean condition. Tells the story of the legendary band of correspondents who, under Edward R. Murrow's direction, formed CBS's pioneering World War II news team and, in doing so, invented modern broadcast journalism. All in their twenties and thirties, Murrow and the Boys (who included William L. Shirer, Eric Sevareid, and Howard K. Smith) covered and brought to vivid life the war's great events, from the German invasion of Poland to D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge. Young idealists, they believed they were here to change the world. But their triumphant early careers, which made them celebrities in America, would eventually come to grief in the fickle world of broadcasting. The increasing desire for entertainment, McCarthyism, the rise of corporate sponsorship, and ultimately the birth of television all conspired to taint the tradition of serious journalism as the Boys had known it.

A dramatic, exhilarating narrative that portrays exceptional lives against the tumultuous backdrop of the last half century, The Murrow Boys is both a powerful reminder of the possibilities of broadcast journalism and a sharp-eyed account of where the craft went wrong.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "A fascinating history of the beginnings of broadcast journalism and what we have lost over the ensuing years."; "5+ stars. This offers such valuable insight into the history and evolution of journalism, and the impact of Edward R Murrow's vision, grit, determination, ethical standards and lasting legacy. It takes you through the golden age of journalism - when households consumed news primarily through the radio, and how the craft drastically changed (for better or worse, though the Murrow Boys clearly had their perspective) with the invention of television. I absolutely loved reading all the details behind their WWII reporting, and it was pretty sad/disappointing to read how they were treated by CBS brass post-WWII in favor of profits and ratings. This really takes you back to the time when journalism was thoughtful, synthesized and held to high standards of respect and ethics - a far cry from the 24 hour noisy, clickbait-worthy, at times blatantly propagandist junk we're subject to now."; "An excellent, well researched narrative biography of Edward R. Murrow and the WWII war correspondents he recruited. It was the start of broadcast news."