The decade that shaped television news

by Sig Mickelson

This insider's account, written by the first president of CBS News, documents the meteoric rise of television news during the 1950s. From its beginnings as a novelty with little importance as a disseminator of news, to an aggressive rival to newspapers, radio, and news magazines, television news became the most respected purveyor of information on the American scene despite insufficient funding and the absence of trained personnel. Mickelson's fascinating account shows the arduous and frequently critical steps undertaken by inexperienced staffs in the development of television news, documentaries, and sports broadcasts. He provides a treasure trove of facts and anecdotes about plotting in the corridors, the ascendancy of stars such as Edward R. Murrow, and the retirement into oblivion of the less favored. In a little more than a decade, television reshaped American life. How it happened is a fascinating story.