Edward Murrow

Murrow was not at all shy about where he had to go to get a story. He was not one of those reporters who only sat at a desk and delivered news written by someone else based on facts gathered by another person. From his signature, “This...is London” to the final “Good night and good luck”, he brought the action to the audience at home in the United States. One of his first reports from the middle of the action was during the Blitz in London. He provided a blow-by-blow account of the German bombs dropping on London. Reporting from the steps of St. Martins in the Fields on Trafalgar Square, with air raid sirens blaring in the background, he described in great detail the blackout. In other reports you can hear him talk about “bombs skittering”, hear the sound of explosions in the background and ack-ack exploding overhead. He flew 25 mission with both the RAF and the US Army Air Corp even though the honchos at CBS had a fit. This was an interesting take since his London office was b

Good Night, and Good Luck , the 2005 box office blockbuster, looks at Edward R. Murrow’s epic battle against the commie-hunting Senator, Joseph McCarthy. David Strathairn (The Bourne Ultimatum) played Murrow, while Jeff Daniels and Robert Downey, Jr. also starred. George Clooney wrote and directed, while also playing the role of Fred Friendly. Good Night, and Good Luck   movie is about Murrow’s idealism was nominated for six Oscars and won the 2005 AFI Film Award for AFI Movie of the Year. Edward R. Murrow is the subject of other movies available at video stores and via online video rental services. Edward R. Murrow: The Best of “See it Now”  Edward R. Murrow: The Best of “Person to Person”  Edward R. Murrow: The McCarthy Years ,  These above are all compilations of the famed reporter’s work, while This Reporter and Harvest of Shame are documentaries on his life and career.

Edward R. Murrow left large shoes to fill. The man was a pioneer in the news business in both radio and television. He even wrote for newspapers and magazines. But those are obvious. There are many, less obvious ways he left his mark on the world. Both Murrow and his wife believed in giving back. Both were very active in different organizations through the years. Murrow was on the NSFA board of directors for many years. They also set up the Edward R. Murrow Foundation that contributed to hospitals, educational institutions, churches, public broadcasting and more. He and his wife believed in giving back, and they walked the walk. In addition to participating in various organizations, Murrow was honored in other ways. Two schools are named after Murrow, Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University —his alma mater—and Edward R. Murrow High School in Brooklyn, NY. Edward R. Murrow Awards - Beginning in 1977 the Corporation for Public Broadcasting be