Due to Circumstances Beyond Our Control. . .

by Fred W. Friendly

When Fred Friendly's powerful examination of broadcast news was published in 1967, it was judged by The New Yorker to be "an engrossing professional memoir." and it quickly leaped onto The New York Times bestseller list. Now reissued with a new Introduction by Dan Rather, anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News, and Tom Bettag, executive producer of Nightline, on the anniversary of Friendly's death, this discourse on the importance of television in society presents Friendly's uncannily prescient views on the corrosive effect of money on the news business, the sensationalization of news reporting, and the viewing public's appetite for quality broadcasting.
With Edward R. Murrow, Fred Friendly practically invented television journalism. Through telling anecdotes and penetrating analysis, he recalls his collaborations with Murrow, from their stinging documentary on Senator Joseph McCarthy to CBS's pioneering coverage of the burgeoning civil rights and anti-Vietnam War movements. Friendly also recounts his resignation as president of CBS News in 1966, when the network ran reruns of I Love Lucy instead of Senate hearings on the war in Vietnam. Following that controversial decision, he began writing this memorable book.

Genres: Nonfiction, Journalism

338 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even at nearly 60 years old, this collection of war stories from the former head of CBS News (and Ed Murrow's producer) remains relevant. The battles between quality and reach were fought and lost during Friendly's career, and they shaped the mass media we have today. Granting this is my personal sweet spot, this is a great book (and an accidental library find).

[Mike Kemper]

A must read for anyone who wants to understand the early days of broadcast journalism. What lead to the vanishing of 'public good' in broadcast journalism. And how the all consuming forces of commercialization steamrolled over, never understood, or really gave a damn about it. A heroic tragedy that I grew up with, but never understood why evaporated before my young eyes.

[Jason Cupp · Rating 5 out of 5]

in 1966, the corporate decision to air an 'i love lucy' rerun instead of live coverage of the senate foreign relations committee hearings on vietnam caused mr. friendly to resign his position from the CBS news department after 16 years. "due to circumstances beyond our control" is fred's account of his time at CBS and an examination of broadcast journalism's struggle to maintain integrity in a sea of shareholders.

fred attempts to end the book with a silver lining (his involvement with the ford foundation), but the bulk of the memoir is concerned with the pathetic moral tailspin the broadcast industry of america seems to enjoy in the name of growing profits.

although published in 1967, " due to circumstances beyond our control" is imbued with contemporary urgency and correctly anticipates the abysmal state of both television and radio today. you should probably huck your television into an icy river right now.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

IS THIS BOOK IN PRINT AND WHERE CAN I FIND IT??? That is all.