Dan Rather: An Opinion Piece
On January 31, 2017, I listened to a lecture by award-winning broadcast journalist, Dan Rather. This speech was a part of Wright State University’s presidential lecture series which the college is marking its 50th year anniversary. Mr. Rather has retired from his broadcasting days working on air as a CBS News anchor and a 60 Minutes correspondent. Now, he is the President and CEO of News and Guts, a media station which specializes in high quality, nonfiction news. Furthermore, Mr. Rather is well known for being a reporter who covered stories with distinction including: reporting about the Civil Rights movement, interviewing Mikhail Gorbachev in Red Square and Fidel Castro in Cuba, reporting about the Abu Ghraib prison abuses in 2004, and staying on air for 18 consecutive hours after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
I did not know this much information about him before I watched the lecture. I knew he was a well-known journalist when I told my mom I wanted to listen to his speech. She was so excited that she popped up and said she wanted to go to. Within his speech, he spoke about several important topics that really sparked my curiosity. At first, he thanked the president of Wright State, Mr. David R. Hopkins for giving such a welcoming introduction. Next, he asked the crowd to take a moment of silence for all the men and women who were serving in the military across the world. Afterwards, he began by explaining how he landed his job in television. Mr. Rather insisted that he had no words of wisdom, but I found several purposes to his speech.
Globalization has sparked rapid change in the U.S.
He introduced this idea by giving his reason for our new president. He stated, “The need for change is why we have our new president.” The country was changing too quickly, and people were not used to that. This led to citizens wanting a president to make everything “normal again.” However, this is not going to happen because globalization resonates with people. According to Mr. Rather, “Globalization is the world-wide immigration of western ideas into other cultures.” I agree with this quote, but I also believe that other country’s ideals are now merging into our culture. That is why change is happening so rapidly because globalization is transforming the world. Mr. Rather stated, “The world has changed us. It is not going back.”
The American people can face any challenge that is thrown at them.
Mr. Rather explained that the American people will need to be steady. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “The definition of steady is fixed in position.” I believe Mr. Rather was explaining how the American people need to hold steady in their values during chaotic and confusing times. He stated, “We are a “can-do” people. We make and overcome challenges.” Basically, Mr. Rather was pointing out that we needed to be rock-steady in this storm.
Free and independent press is under attack by this new presidency.
Nowadays, people blame the media for lying. However, what journalists do matter. They are telling the public what happens in the government and the world. Sadly, this new administration is trying to paint the media as a problem. Mr. Rather stated, “Become an educated consumer of press, decipher from fake news, alternative facts, and propaganda.” This means taking the time to check things outs and evaluate multiple trustworthy sources.
This world is changing, but that does not mean it is ending.
Mr. Rather stated that he is an optimist. Even as there are demonstrators in the streets at this very moment, he stated, “Taking to the streets is just the first step. You need to organize and plan for the future. Hard work comes later by getting leverage at the polls.” It is about spreading a message and creating trust between the public and the media. The media must balance between the public and the corporations they serve. That means they can make mistakes, but most will own up to it. Mr. Rather declared, “If a majority [of the public] becomes cynical, we will not survive.” The definition of cynical according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary is “contemptuously distrustful of human nature and motives.” He suggested people find a news source they trust before giving up on all media. Specifically, he recommended the Associated Press.
All in all, I enjoyed learning about Mr. Dan Rather’s opinions. He was a great storyteller. Every story had a reason, and he made me feel like I could report on similar issues that he has reported on in the past. There will be another presidential lecture speaker at the Wright State Nutter Center on March 30. The speaker’s name is Jonathan Capeheart, and he is the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. I will be there, and I hope to see you there, too.
Sources:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steady
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cynical
