Blue Plaque for American Broadcaster Edward R. Murrow
One of the most renowned figures in the history of American broadcast journalism, Edward R. Murrow (1908-1965), will be commemorated with an English Heritage Blue Plaque on 15 February at 3pm at Weymouth House, 84-94 Hallam Street, London W1, where he lived from 1938 to 1946.
During his career, which spanned a quarter of a century, Edward R. Murrow made more than 5,000 broadcasts and did much to shape the format for television news that we see today. He famously took on Senator Joseph McCarthy, the virulent anti-Communist, and his fight for democratic action is the subject of a new Bafta nominated film, "Good Night, and Good Luck", directed by George Clooney.
Ed Murrow joined Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) in 1935 as Director of Talks and Education. Two years later, he was sent to London as European Director of CBS, and quickly assumed a front-line reporting role. He proved an immediate success as a broadcaster and as a pioneer of on-the-spot reporting.
Murrow's famous news broadcasts from London, which began with the introductory call sign: "This...is London ", helped rally American public opinion to Britain's side during World War II, the country's "darkest hour". Similarly, "Meet Uncle Sam", a programme he introduced to the BBC in 1941, promoted the United States to the British public. This, along with other regular broadcasts for the BBC, made Murrow's voice a familiar one to UK listeners.
Murrow showed notable personal courage in the pursuit of the best angle on a story. One broadcast at the height of the Blitz was delivered from the roof of Broadcasting House during a raid, and he flew on 25 bombing raids over Europe.
In the Spring of 1946, Murrow returned to the United States and quickly resumed his frontline broadcasting. He successfully made the switch from radio to television reporting and essentially created the prototype TV documentary with "See it Now" (1951-58), an adaptation of his popular radio show "Hear it Now". The series was the vehicle for Murrow's celebrated report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy (broadcast on 9 March 1954 ). The programme is generally seen to mark the turning point in the "Red Scare" and helped bring the era of the McCarthyite witch-hunt to an end. Murrow said in his McCarthy broadcast: "We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home." At that time, New York Times' TV critic, Jack Gould, wrote: "last week may be remembered as the week that broadcasting recaptured its soul."
Following his retirement from CBS in 1961, Murrow was asked by President John F. Kennedy to become Director of the United States Information Agency, a position he held until 1964. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964 and died from lung cancer in 1965, having been appointed a KBE (Knight Commander of the British Empire ) only a month earlier.
Murrow earned himself a reputation as a courageous and innovative broadcaster. Michael Grade, the current Chairman of BBC governors, described him as "the most distinguished figure in American broadcast journalism". His belief in journalism as an active part of the political process and as a necessary tool within democracy set a strong precedent for those working in this field today.
Email this to a friend