biography

 

I thought I would share this interesting article with my American colleagues at the Den on the famous and legendary US journalist Edward R Murrow Peter Paton   London remembers US broadcaster

Edward Murrow reported from London at the height of the Blitz A US journalist whose broadcasts from London helped rally American public opinion to Britain's side during World War II, has been commemorated. A blue plaque has been unveiled at Edward R Murrow's old home, Weymouth House in Hallam Street, central London. Murrow, who reported from London at the height of the Blitz, would begin with his "This is London" call sign. He famously took on Senator Joseph McCarthy in 1954, with his television programme "See it Now". On-the-spot His on-air conflicts with the anti-Communist crusader McCarthy are portrayed in the Bafta and Oscar-nominated film "Good Night and Good Luck", directed by George Clooney. Murrow, born in 1908, was a renowned figure in the history of American broadcast journalism, making more than 5,000 broadcasts. He lived in Weymouth House from 1938 to 1946, while European director for Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). He was a pioneer of on-the-spot reporting, and delivered one broadcast at the height of the Blitz from the roof of BBC Broadcasting House in central London as well as flying on 25 bombing raids over Europe. Regular broadcasts for the BBC, including "Meet Uncle Sam" which promoted America to the British public, made his voice a familiar one in the UK. He later returned to frontline broadcasting in the US. BBC Chairman Michael Grade described Murrow as "the most distinguished figure in American broadcast journalism". He was appointed a Knight Commander of the British Empire in 1964 as well as receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He died from lung cancer in 1965. Web Site http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4714000.stm