TV news and the echo of Murrow

Abstract

Television journalism in the UK honours the vision of America’s greatest newsman. But for how long can standards be maintained? Fifty years after Edward R Murrow, the man credited with inventing television journalism in America, made a famous speech to the annual convention of the Radio and Television National Directors Association, media professor Barnett examines the state of TV in the UK and the U.S. and writes: “American television journalism has failed; British television journalism – for the time being – has succeeded. Why? And for how long?