Murrow College Recognizes Lifetime Achievements in Journalism

Bob Schieffer and Helen Thomas receive honors at the 35th annual Edward R. Murrow Symosium.



The 35th Edward R. Murrow Symposium held Tuesday night at Washington State University in Pullman, Wash. honored two distinguished journalists for their coverage of the nation's capitol. Bob Schieffer and Helen Thomas, honorees of the Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award, spoke about their work and current industry trends.

Both Schieffer and Thomas began their careers as Washington D.C. journalists during the Kennedy Presidency. Schieffer bares the distinction of completing the "Grand Slam" of D.C. coverage; covering the White House, Pentagon, State Department and Capitol Hill. Thomas, known as the "First Lady of the Press" has covered every president since Kennedy. Her red dresses and "Thank you Mr. President" comments have made her perhaps the most recognized White House correspondent.

"Murrow taught us not to be afraid of the powers-that-be," said Thomas, with the top of the podium and microphones standing just above her forehead.

Thomas explained that journalism has come a long way over the last half century, but the future seems uncertain at this point going on to say, "Reporters have let the world down... American journalists need to return to their mission: to follow the truth."

Schieffer also expressed concern for journalism, "Journalism is in a crisis." Newspapers in particular have seen the worst of the decline in journalism. "I cannot start my day without my coffee and my newspaper," said Shcieffer, "The future of newspapers... is in doubt."

Both speakers agreed that the speed at which technology is advancing is causing the journalism industry to change and change rapidly.

"Everyone with a laptop thinks they're a journalist...," Said Thomas.

Schieffer's and Thomas's concerns touch base on bigger idea that technology may be killing journalism, or at least in the traditional sense. News websites are growing dominant over print and subsequently caused the bankruptcy of large-scale print operations across the globe.

However, there is a much greater question of creditbility of information when dealing with online sources versus print.

Bob Schieffer compared websites lacking crediblity to that of someone standing on a corner holding a sign reading 'The end is near'. "He may be right, but we need to know what he is basing that on," said Schieffer.

What the immediate or distant impacts of this will be nobody is sure.

"We don't know where journalism is going," said Schieffer.

Both Schieffer and Thomas explained the need for journalists and their role in democracy. Journalists are the 'watch dogs' of democracy and that without them it will be much more difficult to keep those in power accountable for their actions.

"Independent sources are crucial to a democracy," Schieffer concluded.