Who We Trust Post-Cronkite

From Cooper to Oprah, people weigh in
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 21, 2009 11:54 AM CDT
Who We Trust Post-Cronkite
circa 1965: Studio headshot portrait of American broadcast journalist and news anchor Walter Cronkite wearing a jacket and tie.   (Getty Images)

After the passing of Walter Cronkite, the Washington Post wondered who could compare to his level of trustworthiness. Below are a few of the responses they got from a variety of sources:

  • Anderson Cooper, “because he always has that slight bit of cynicism when it’s deserved,” says filmmaker John Waters, who cites war and porn as the only reasons to have TV, and adds: "If I had to look at any newscaster in a porno film, I'd pick him."
  • Oprah Winfrey, “because she has been so open and so transparent about her own life,” says a Smithsonian director.

  • Larry David: “No one is more maddening—and trustworthy,” says a PR guru.
  • The Dalai Lama: “He’s not selling anything but peace,” says Deepak Chopra.
  • “Possibly Miley Cyrus?” speculates a comedian.
  • Joel Osteen: “Americans are looking increasingly to the pulpit for spiritual direction in uncertain times,” says a nonprofit director.
  • Google—after all, “we give Google millions of pieces of information about our lives,” says a political adman.
  • Then again, “if the standard is Walter Cronkite, forget about it. The era of universally trusted people is gone if not forgotten,” says a congresswoman.
For the complete list, click the link below.
(More Walter Cronkite stories.)

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