What “the most trusted man in America” found at the National Press Club

Originally posted to www.press.org August 30, 2011

There are many ways for our members to derive tremendous value out of the National Press Club. And the reasons to be a member vary among individuals, depending on their needs and interests, of course. As we try to fulfill those interests, one of the biggest challenges for an NPC president is to work to ensure that each of our more than two dozen member-populated committees are vibrant.

Beyond the committee activities, there's the wonderful service provided by our restaurants and bar, our library and our fitness center. I've come to appreciate that there's a learning curve for new members who are trying to understand all of their options.

Those options have changed quite a bit over the years. And that's exemplified by a wonderful story told by the journalist once called "the most trusted man in America."
There are few broadcast journalists, living or dead that I respected more than the late Walter Cronkite of CBS News. Like me, he was a Midwesterner. He had wire service roots and seemed omnipresent as broadcast media came of age. He covered World War II, the Kennedy Assassination and Apollo 11's moon landing. He would sign off his popular newscasts with the trademark line, "And that's the way it is."
Under 1973 President Don Larrabee, he was also the first winner of our Fourth Estate Award having been an NPC member since 1948. Sadly, Cronkite died two years ago. Don, by the way, remains a treasured active member of the Club.

The Reliable Source bar and restaurant are no less significant contributors to our members' experiences today. But we have become a bit more systematic in providing professional training and other professional benefits to our journalist and communicator members.
Examples include our Journalism Bootcamp or the numerous other classes we provide at low or no additional cost to members on things like video editing, writing for the Internet, photography software, editorial writing and overall career coaching.
To celebrate the legacy of Cronkite and other great journalists, our next Fourth Estate Award dinner is set for Oct. 28. Jim Lehrer, the longtime host of the PBS Newshour, will be roasted that evening.
In the meantime, you can still have a great time in the Reliable Source, and maybe even pick up a news tip, word of a job opening or just some juicy gossip.
"And that's the way it is."