Dean Christopher Callahan shared his personal ties to Walter Cronkite when he spoke
to the 2013 ASNE/Reynolds fellows.
I was in high school when Walter Cronkite told me that John F. Kennedy had died.
It was during the school day and I was at school. I suspect I had already heard the horrific news from another newscaster or a teacher or maybe even another student. But it wasn't real until Cronkite said it was.
That's the way we all felt about him. I still do. When I watched that moment again in the memorabilia room here last week, I felt like I was that high school girl again.
What a coup for ASU to get Cronkite to tie his name and all that prestige to its journalism school here.
And what a joy to hear about Dean Christopher Callahan's personal connection to the revered Cronkite. The phone message was a great story, the extent of Callahan's awe at being in Cronkite's presence even better.
When my etymology students and I talk about eponyms, I include the obligatory examples: pasteurization, sandwich, derrick, even hooker (which may be more of an urban legend than truth, but it's still a fun possibility). And then I talk about journalism students who want to learn how to "cronkite" the news.
Elizabeth Granger
Lawrence Central High School
Indianapolis, Ind.
I loved what he said about how personal it was top talk to Cronkite. Cronkite was so iconic. I can't think of anyone in television news today who really has that authority. I do sometimes get a fond feeling for Terry Gross on NPR and for Anderson Cooper at his best. but there is so much media now t hat I don't think everyone can ever be like "Uncle Walter" again.
ReplyDeleteI keep forgetting to sign posts! That was Bonnie up above.
ReplyDeleteI was years from being a zygote when Cronkite made the JFK announcement but I have seen that video many times over the years. I even his autobiography (i think its an auto) somewhere unread in my old closet at my moms house. To hear stories about him and to hear Dean Christopher Callahan speak about issues we have was amazing. It is rare to see leadership like that so personable and gracious, and I think we all enjoyed hearing the Dean and his anecdotes. I am going to steal your line and have my video kids on camera try to "Cronkite" the news
ReplyDeleteRudy De La Torre
Escondido High School
Escondido, CA
Sometimes, I hate the fact that I was born in the mid-80s, because I missed so many of those iconic moments of news anchors! For as long as I've been aware, "Walter Cronkite" has been a larger-than-life name and a figurehead, but I never really experienced him as a news anchor. I'm not sure if this is the equivalent of heresy to the rest of you, but sometimes I think of Brian Williams as my generation's Walter Cronkite.
ReplyDeleteJulieanne McClain
Rutherford B. Hayes High School
Delaware, Ohio
I got a but misty-eyed when I heard the dean talk about Cronkite with such reverence. I remember my parents talking about him and I can still hear my dad mimicking his voice. I love the way the Cronkite School honors his legacy.
ReplyDeleteJulie, I think Peter Jennings was one of the best in our time. I was so heartbroken when he died. I can only imagine how people felt when Cronkite passed away. It's like the dean said - these people are in our living rooms with us!
Meghann Peterson
Chanhassen High School
Chanhassen, Minn.