Edward R. Murrow
Edward R. Murrow was described as "one of those rare legendary figures who was as good as his myth." Powerful words, indeed. Yet, as we'll explore in this biography, his life reflected that sentiment. As a journalist, he acted with immense courage, reporting from war zones and other dangers while seeking truths, maintaining a high standard of journalistic integrity, and offering wisdom and moral clarity.
Though he passed away in 1965, many of his insights are still relevant today, particularly for journalism and society.
The following is Edward's story.
Born Egbert Roscoe Murrow on April 25, 1908, in Polecat Creek, North Carolina, Edward, as he would come to be known, spent much of his upbringing in Blanchard, Washington. The town was relatively new, having been settled only a few decades prior by two families from North Carolina. Over the years, a number of North Carolina families like the Murrows followed. But the town was also diverse, with people from all over the U.S. and many immigrants, most of whom were from Sweden, Greece, and Italy. Over a quarter of the people there worked in the timber industry, including Edward's father. Edward joined in his younger years as well to help the family financially.
At home, Edward grew up in a religious Quaker household where bible chapters were read nightly. His mother was strict, values-driven and discipline-oriented. She banned smoking, drinking, and card playing. On Sundays, there was to be no work. But while Edward became a smoker and drinker and loved playing poker, his mother's lessons about being responsible, respecting others, loving the U.S., and fighting for peace stuck with Edward throughout his life. From her, he also learned "a striking manner of speech, a kind of old-fashioned precision with inverted phrases like 'this I believe' and verb forms like 'it pleasure me' which...[he] used, on and off the air, all his life."