Online report of the Progressive Review. Since 1964, the news while there's still time to do something about it.
January 29, 2015
Word
One of the basic troubles
with radio and television news is that both instruments have
grown up as an incompatible combination of show business, advertising
and news. Each of the three is a rather bizarre and demanding
profession. And when you get all three under one roof, the dust
never settles. The top management of the networks with a few
notable exceptions, has been trained in advertising, research,
sales or show business. But by the nature of the corporate structure,
they also make the final and crucial decisions having to do with
news and public affairs. Frequently they have neither the time
nor the competence to do this. It is not easy for the same small
group of men to decide whether to buy a new station for millions
of dollars, build a new building, alter the rate card, buy a
new Western, sell a soap opera, decide what defensive line to
take in connection with the latest Congressional inquiry, how
much money to spend on promoting a new program, what additions
or deletions should be made in the existing covey or clutch of
vice-presidents, and at the same time-- frequently on the same
long day--to give mature, thoughtful consideration to the manifold
problems that confront those who are charged with the responsibility
for news and public affairs. - Edward R. Murrow, 1958
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