Where have you gone Walter Cronkite, a lonely nation turns its eyes to you, woo woo woo…

Right now no news is good news.

I have been microdosing the news recently. The shock and tumult from the disastrous Presidential election was too much. Like having a violent bout of food poisoning, my delicate system can’t digest the news right now.

I’m not alone.

People are fleeing the news in droves. Mainstream cable media like MSNBC and CNN are hemorrhaging viewers with MSNBC losing 53% of its viewers in a week. In the wake of Trump’s win, Fox News dominates. I’m not even sure where to go, but it sure isn’t  there.

The news is all about making us anxious  24/7 not to inform. If you are not nervous you are not watching the news.

I don’t know who to turn to.

Where is Walter Cronkite, the voice of God when we need him?

In this age of deep distrust, “the most trusted man in America” is sorely missed more than ever.

Walter Cronkite reigned supreme at a time of journalistic integrity, ( no millennials, that’s not an oxymoron) long before cable tabloid news became the norm and reputable journalists were replaced with newscasters more worthy of Loony Toons than a legitimate news organization.

Walter Cronkite wanted every news consumer in America to be skeptical of the news. But he was advocating critical thinking, not dismissal of the facts.

And That’s the Way it Was:

The dilemma of a single TV set household having to choose between watching Walter Cronkite and Daffy Duck. Vintage ad Sony TV 1968

I recently came across this advertisement from Sony TV from 1968, a tumultuous year if ever there was one, one that rivals ours for divisiveness and upheavals.

The ad presents a beleaguered dad who has to deal with the common dilemma faced by a one TV household, forced to choose between watching the nightly news with Walter Cronkite or giving in to the kiddies’ demand to watch cartoons.

Poor Pop.

After a long day as the breadwinner,  all he wants to do is come home, sit in his Barca Lounger, and watch Walter Cronkite’s report on Vietnam. But Jr. after a long day of New Math wants the distraction of Daffy Duck. Mom who is so busy doing the dinner dishes, seems to want Walter too, but we don’t know for sure.

You’ve just come home from a hard day at the office,”  the copy begins.  “All you want to do is sit in front of the television and watch Walter Cronkite authoritatively reporting the news.

Unfortunately, your kids have just come home from a hard day at the playground. And all they want to do is sit in front of the television and relax to the soothing sound of Daffy Duck’s voice.  Obvious you have a problem.

The solution of course was to get an additional small portable TV.  The 8-inch screen is big enough, Sony reassures us  “for a full set of parents ( We’re taking it for granted your wife prefers Walter Cronkite to Daffy Duck too).”

Billed as a peacemaker, the TV cost $129.95 . But Sony  assures us, “Walter Cronkite is worth every penny of it.”

Today of course we don’t have to make a choice between news or cartoons.  No, not just because we have so many devices to watch news and entertainment but because now  we can watch newscasters who have morphed into cartoon characters, with about the same respect for facts as Daffy Duck.

Sadly that’s the way it is…..

© Sally Edelstein and Envisioning The American Dream, 2016. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Sally Edelstein and Envisioning The American Dream with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.