Journalism Principles and Practices Television Journalism Principles and Practices

Early Origins Mechanical scanning Electronic scanning First TV developed around 1939 But WWII put everything on hold

The Post-War Boom Perfect medium for the time Economy plus housing plus desire to stay home Television advertising at first doubted -- but then became a powerhouse Cable TV grew: Big antennas and satellites

The Golden Age Milton Berle I Love Lucy - pioneering in more than one way The money spigot opens

Television News Early efforts Began to see impact - Checkers Speech “See It Now” -- Murrow and McCarthy Huntley-Brinkley, Walter Cronkite The Kennedy assassination cements the medium’s importance

Television Becomes Profit Center News formats Cable news cuts up pie but also makes pie bigger News plus show business makes for an uneasy mix

Profit vs. News Value While the question is relevant to all journalism, television grappled with it early and often See It Now and Person to Person were prime examples The McCarthy program drove a wedge between Paley and Murrow

Good Night and Good Luck Study Guide 
This is a movie, not a documentary, but while it may not be word-for-word accurate it does convey the essential fact with complete honesty and clarity. I say that because I have asked several people involved with the original Murrow telecast and they vouch for the essential accuracy of the film. 
 
 Enjoy the film, but please pay attention to these areas...


Study Guide Continued The economics of the television industry The relationship among networks and affiliates, and the delicate positions faced by sponsors – Alcoa, for example The divided loyalties of many CBS administrators – to whom did they owe obligations? The difficult ethical judgments facing Murrow. What relevance Murrow’s speech before the RTDNA might have today The way McCarthy orchestrated pseudo-events