Radio's Revolution: Don Hollenbeck's CBS Views the Press

New
Hardcover
2009
$52.08

CBS Views the Press ranks as one of the most important radio programs in U.S. journalism history. The pet project of Edward R. Murrow, Don Hollenbeck's fifteen-minute program aired weekly over WCBS in New York City from 1947 to 1950 and won a Peabody, a George Polk and other major journalism awards. The provocative program was broadcasting's Declaration of Independence from newspapers-the first time a network dared trade roles with the powerful press to become the critic of newspapers, not merely the subject of newspapers' criticism. Radio's Revolution brings together twenty historically significant transcripts of CBS Views the Press, with Loren Ghiglione providing the historical context and insight into Hollenbeck's approach. Hollenbeck tackled the toughest topics, from racism to McCarthyism, and many in the media applauded his conscience and courage. But powerful New York newspapers, including William Randolph Hearst's flagship Journal-American, attacked Hollenbeck's program as pro-Communist and anticonservative. In 1954 Hollenbeck got caught in the middle of the televised confrontation between CBS's Murrow and Senator Joe McCarthy. Still under assault by Hearst columnists, separated from his third wife, worried about losing his job at CBS, and suffering from alcoholism and depression, Hollenbeck killed himself.

Synopsis

CBS Views the Press ranks as one of the most important radio programs in U.S. journalism history. The pet project of Edward R. Murrow, Don Hollenbeck's fifteen-minute program aired weekly over WCBS in New York City from 1947 to 1950 and won a Peabody, a George Polk and other major journalism awards. The provocative program was broadcasting's Declaration of Independence from newspapers-the first time a network dared trade roles with the powerful press to become the critic of newspapers, not merely the subject of newspapers' criticism. Radio's Revolution brings together twenty historically significant transcripts of CBS Views the Press, with Loren Ghiglione providing the historical context and insight into Hollenbeck's approach. Hollenbeck tackled the toughest topics, from racism to McCarthyism, and many in the media applauded his conscience and courage. But powerful New York newspapers, including William Randolph Hearst's flagship Journal-American, attacked Hollenbeck's program as pro-Communist and anticonservative. In 1954 Hollenbeck got caught in the middle of the televised confrontation between CBS's Murrow and Senator Joe McCarthy. Still under assault by Hearst columnists, separated from his third wife, worried about losing his job at CBS, and suffering from alcoholism and depression, Hollenbeck killed himself.

$52.08

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More Information

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 188
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
Published: 05 Jan 2009
ISBN 10: 0803267584
ISBN 13: 9780803267589
Book Overview: Brings together twenty historically significant transcripts of CBS Views the Press

Media Reviews

This little book is a window on what might seem an experiment-a rare moment when a network flagship station stood up and dared to critique its newspaper betters in a way not heard before and rarely since. -Christopher H. Sterling, Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly -- Christopher H. Sterling * Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly *
Radio's Revolution, an edited collection of many of the best CBS Views the Press transcripts, is an extremely valuable addition to the small literature on mid-century press criticism. -Robert A. Rabe, H-Net -- Robert A. Rabe * H-Net/Jhistory *

Author Bio

Don Hollenbeck (1905-54) was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, and held his first assignment at the Nebraska State Journal. He later reported and edited for Omaha and New York newspapers and the Associated Press, served as a World War II correspondent, and broadcasted news for three major networks.
Loren Ghiglione is the Richard A. Schwarzlose Professor of Media Ethics in the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. He is the author of The American Journalist: Paradox of the Press and CBS' Don Hollenbeck: An Honest Reporter in the Age of McCarthyism.