The Edward R. Murrow of Docudramas and Documentary
Media History Monographs 12:1 (2010) ISSN 1940-8862 The Edward R. Murrow of Docudramas and Documentary By Lawrence N. Strout Mississippi State University Three major TV and film productions about Edward R. Murrow‟s life are the subject of this research: Murrow, HBO, 1986; Edward R. Murrow: This Reporter, PBS, 1990; and Good Night, and Good Luck, Warner Brothers, 2005. Murrow has frequently been referred to as the “father” of broadcast journalism. So, studying the “documentation” of his life in an attempt to ascertain its historical role in supporting, challenging, and/or adding to the collective memory and mythology surrounding him is important. Research on the docudramas and documentary suggests the depiction that provided the least amount of context regarding Murrow‟s life (Good Night) may be the most available for viewing (DVD). Therefore, Good Night might ultimately contribute to this generation (and the next) having a more narrow and skewed memory of Murrow. And, Good Night even seems to add (if that is possible) to Murrow‟s already “larger than life” mythological image. ©2010 Lawrence N. Strout Media History Monographs 12:1 Strout: Edward R. Murrow The Edward R. Murrow of Docudramas and Documentary Edward R. Murrow officially resigned from Life and Legacy of Edward R. Murrow” at CBS in January of 1961 and he died of cancer AEJMC‟s annual convention in August 2008, April 27, 1965.1 Unquestionably, Murrow journalists and academicians devoted a great contributed greatly to broadcast journalism‟s deal of time revisiting Edward R. Murrow‟s development; achieved unprecedented fame in contributions to broadcast journalism‟s the United States during his career at CBS;2 history.
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