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Prime Time: The Life of Edward R. Murrow
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608 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 29, 2017
Even though this book was written way back in 1969, its’ still very valid in today’s world. This biography examines the life of Ed Murrow in radio and television.
Murrow went to Europe as part of a university exchange program and in 1937 joined the CBS European broadcasting team. Murrow was everywhere where the news was. Before the war he continually warned an isolated and xenophobic U.S. of the rising threat of Hitler’s Nazi Germany. He was in England during the blitz, providing the world with on-the-ground reporting of the air-raids and bombs raining down on the city of London. He brought to homes via radio, how England was withstanding alone the assault of Nazi tyranny. He was forever admired for this in England, and for his efforts to rally the U.S. to the common cause.
Some say that Murrow had a death wish. For he not only gave radio broadcasts when bombs were falling on London, but also went on air-raids with British bombers to Berlin.
He was there when Buchenwald was liberated. Murrow reported by radio: (page 277, my book)
“In another part of the camp they showed me children, hundreds of them. Some were only six. One rolled up his sleeve, showed me his number. It was tattooed on his arm. D-6030, it was. The others showed me there numbers.”
Page 279
“One shoe, two shoes, a dozen shoes, yes. But how can you describe several thousand shoes? ... I pray you believe what I have said about Buchenwald. I have reported what I saw and heard, but only part of it. For most of it I have no words.”
After the war he returned to the U.S. and became involved in radio public affairs broadcasting. Murrow always saw radio, and then television, as an educational tool – to enlighten and challenge. He saw its role as a growing entertainment medium with much chagrin and a detriment to democracy. He was wary of the role of big business in sponsoring and controlling media. Murrow, however, oversaw much of his own radio and TV shows (like “See It Now”). They never made much money – in other words they cost more to produce than the revenue received from advertising.
Murrow, as the author recounts, was instrumental (along with others it should be added) in directly challenging on television the witch-hunt reign of Senator Joe McCarthy, when innuendo was used to discredit and destroy the careers of several people who were supposedly “communist” or “communist-sympathizers”.
There is not much in this book about the personal life of Murrow. It would seem he hardly had any – for he was always on the move and working. He left CBS due to increasing incompatibility in the late 1950’s, and joined a government information agency that was trying to spread the “goodwill” of the U.S. to outside countries. Murrow, as can be imagined, had conflicts with this as well. Murrow always wanted the facts – and to go beyond the superficial – he wanted to dig into an issue.
This book is a thorough examination of the role of media in our lives. Even though it was TV and radio in that era it is still jarring how little has changed. One chapter is called “Evidence of Decadence, Escapism and Insulation”. Sound familiar!
Murrow went to Europe as part of a university exchange program and in 1937 joined the CBS European broadcasting team. Murrow was everywhere where the news was. Before the war he continually warned an isolated and xenophobic U.S. of the rising threat of Hitler’s Nazi Germany. He was in England during the blitz, providing the world with on-the-ground reporting of the air-raids and bombs raining down on the city of London. He brought to homes via radio, how England was withstanding alone the assault of Nazi tyranny. He was forever admired for this in England, and for his efforts to rally the U.S. to the common cause.
Some say that Murrow had a death wish. For he not only gave radio broadcasts when bombs were falling on London, but also went on air-raids with British bombers to Berlin.
He was there when Buchenwald was liberated. Murrow reported by radio: (page 277, my book)
“In another part of the camp they showed me children, hundreds of them. Some were only six. One rolled up his sleeve, showed me his number. It was tattooed on his arm. D-6030, it was. The others showed me there numbers.”
Page 279
“One shoe, two shoes, a dozen shoes, yes. But how can you describe several thousand shoes? ... I pray you believe what I have said about Buchenwald. I have reported what I saw and heard, but only part of it. For most of it I have no words.”
After the war he returned to the U.S. and became involved in radio public affairs broadcasting. Murrow always saw radio, and then television, as an educational tool – to enlighten and challenge. He saw its role as a growing entertainment medium with much chagrin and a detriment to democracy. He was wary of the role of big business in sponsoring and controlling media. Murrow, however, oversaw much of his own radio and TV shows (like “See It Now”). They never made much money – in other words they cost more to produce than the revenue received from advertising.
Murrow, as the author recounts, was instrumental (along with others it should be added) in directly challenging on television the witch-hunt reign of Senator Joe McCarthy, when innuendo was used to discredit and destroy the careers of several people who were supposedly “communist” or “communist-sympathizers”.
There is not much in this book about the personal life of Murrow. It would seem he hardly had any – for he was always on the move and working. He left CBS due to increasing incompatibility in the late 1950’s, and joined a government information agency that was trying to spread the “goodwill” of the U.S. to outside countries. Murrow, as can be imagined, had conflicts with this as well. Murrow always wanted the facts – and to go beyond the superficial – he wanted to dig into an issue.
This book is a thorough examination of the role of media in our lives. Even though it was TV and radio in that era it is still jarring how little has changed. One chapter is called “Evidence of Decadence, Escapism and Insulation”. Sound familiar!
January 24, 2022
Murrow said he wanted reporters on the radio, not announcers: Bill Shirer, Eric Severeid - they wouldn't have passed the CBS test, but he wanted their insights.
"if television and radio are to be used for the entertainment of all of the people all of the time, we have come perilously close to discovering the real opiate of the people." I wonder what he would think about today.
Kendrick spent a lot of time describing the war in London and Murrow's role, but it still didn't seem to be enough somehow.
"if television and radio are to be used for the entertainment of all of the people all of the time, we have come perilously close to discovering the real opiate of the people." I wonder what he would think about today.
Kendrick spent a lot of time describing the war in London and Murrow's role, but it still didn't seem to be enough somehow.
October 13, 2020
Now and then, I really enjoy a good biography. This is one of the good ones, and unlike some others that I have read, it didn't make me dislike the subject of the biography. Although, I don't agree with everything Mr. Murrow stood for, I found his story interesting and enlightening. If you like biographies as much as I do, this is a good one!
September 14, 2024
On the family bookshelf, as I was growing up, this is the first posthumous biography of Murrow, written by a journalist who worked at CBS. I read a chapter here, another there, and would reread.
Mildly recommended.
Mildly recommended.
January 27, 2010
My first intro to Murrow, back in the 70s.
October 19, 2013
This is a giant book on Murrow and well worth the time! Thanks to Tommy Thomason who made me read it in grad school. It changed my perspective on the world!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews