dailyloe.com – CBS News Radio, a prominent figure in broadcast journalism, will sign off after 99 years, marking the end of an era. This decision comes as CBS executives noted a shift in how audiences consume news, increasingly favoring social media. Additionally, they cited ‘challenging economic realities’ influencing this outcome.
Steve Kathan, the final anchor of the ‘CBS World News Roundup,’ recalled first discovering CBS News Radio in the 1960s. He listened to broadcasts on a transistor radio and experienced the immediacy of live news. ‘You were hearing something live. It was a live broadcast,’ Kathan emphasized.
Allison Keyes, a program host and correspondent with over 25 years at CBS, highlighted the station’s historic significance. She recalled covering the September 11 attacks live, stating, ‘I can hardly breathe. It looks like a nuclear war happened here.’ Keyes noted the necessity for real-time information, explaining, ‘People needed to know what was going on that day, in real time, no filter, no politics.’
Craig Swagler, who dedicated 23 years to CBS News Radio, reflected on his journey from an entry-level desk assistant to the network’s top radio executive. He emphasized CBS’s foundational role in radio broadcasting, which began in 1927. Swagler noted that it was not until just before World War II that CBS revolutionized news reporting with a single broadcast.
On March 13, 1938, CBS aired a groundbreaking live report as Robert Trout covered the Anschluss, the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany. Edward R. Murrow, a then-unknown journalist, was in Europe at the time, tasked with finding voices for CBS. His experience observing the rise of Hitler led to innovative broadcasting methods.
Murrow and CBS executives pioneered live news programs featuring remote reports from multiple locations. This approach transformed how news was conveyed, setting a standard for future journalism. The legacy of CBS News Radio remains a testament to the evolution of broadcast journalism over nearly a century.
