Review and Criticism: Research Pioneer Tribute—Edward L. Bliss, Jr.: Broadcast Journalist, Author, Teacher

Abstract

In 2002, one of the second generation of Boys passed away at the age of 90. was L. Bliss, Jr., and he wrote and edited the at for the men he called journalism's two giants--Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite (Hilliard & Keith, 1992, p. 137). served as the exemplar of the practitioner-teacher, and was coauthor of one of the classic broadcast journalism texts and sole author of a comprehensive history of radio and television news. remained active after retirement, teaching workshops in writing and penning two nonbroadcast-related books. Ed Bliss's contributions to the practice and study of broadcasting cover three areas: (a) the work and legacy of R. Murrow, for whom he wrote and edited; (b) broadcast writing, which he did from 1943 until 1968, and then formally taught until 1977; and (c) the history of broadcast journalism, which he lived. Here I offer a look at his careers as broadcast journalist, educator, and author. Bliss at The original anchorman, Walter Cronkite, introduced Ed Bliss at the Radio-Television News Directors Association's (RTNDA's) Paul White Award dinner in 1993 as simply one of the greatest--perhaps the greatest--of broadcast editors. At CBS, where he perfected the art of writing for broadcast, Bliss's colleagues knew him for his excellent writing skills, judgment, and integrity (Freeman, 1989, p. 53). These qualities, coupled with a gentle spirit, made Bliss an outstanding educator during his second career. Like many early broadcast journalists, Bliss began his career in print. first worked at a small town newspaper in Bucyrus, Ohio, in 1935. Bliss had graduated from Yale that year; he originally majored in premed to follow in his doctorfather's footsteps but decided to go into journalism instead (M. Murray, 1994). In 1936, he moved on to a paper in Columbus, serving as reporter and state editor (Freeman, 1989). Bliss ended up in New York in 1943 and was offered a job as writer at (its previous holder went to war). From 1945 to 1955, he served as night editor, proofing all copy, including that of R. Murrow, who invited him to join his staff in 1955. Bliss became known as Murrow's hard news writer (E. Murray, 1999, p. 20). wrote the summary of the esteemed journalist's nightly 15-minute radio broadcast, Edward R. Murrow and the News, and in 1960 produced Background, Murrow's weekly radio program (Edwards, 2004). After Murrow left for the United States Information Agency in 1961, Bliss stayed at CBS, working with renowned producer Fred Friendly doing anything and everything except going on air (M. Murray, 1994, p. 220). During the early 1960s, he served as part of the CBS Reports documentary team, and then as assistant to News President Richard Salant (Freeman, 1989). His most demanding assignment during those years, he recalled, was producing a half-hour documentary for Frank Stanton in 1962. The program on the Rayburn Rule, which banned cameras and microphones during public hearings in the U.S. House of Representatives, aired on only one station in Texas before head William Paley killed (M. Murray, 1994, p. 221). In September 1963, when launched its half-hour evening TV newscast, Walter Cronkite asked Bliss to serve as his editor. Freeman (1989) describes Bliss's role: He sat at arm's length from Cronkite, just out of camera range, prepared to hand over a late-breaking story, update, or rewrite (p. 53). When Kennedy was shot, Bliss screened all copy before Cronkite read it on air to avoid redundancy--he handed the anchor the final confirmation that the President was dead (M. Murray, 1994). At Cronkite's side until 1968, Bliss left for American University in Washington, DC, where he would found its broadcast journalism program and teach its first course in broadcast (In Memoriam, 2003). …