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49 J. Broad. & Elec. Media 251 (2005)
Edward L. Bliss, Jr: Broadcast Journalist, Author, Teacher

handle is hein.journals/jbem49 and id is 259 raw text is: Edward L. Bliss, Jr.: Broadcast Journalist, Author, Teacher Erika Engstrom In 2002, one of the second generation of Murrow's Boys passed away at the age of 90. He was Edward L. Bliss, Jr., and he wrote and edited the news at CBS for the men he called broadcast journalism's two giants-Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite (Hilliard & Keith, 1992, p. 137). He served as the exemplar of the practitioner-teacher, and was coauthor of one of the classic broadcast journalism texts and sole author of a comprehensive history of radio and television news. He remained active after retirement, teaching workshops in news writing and pen- ning two nonbroadcast-related books. Ed Bliss's contributions to the practice and study of broadcasting cover three areas: (a) the work and legacy of Edward R. Murrow, for whom he wrote and edited; (b) broadcast writing, which he did from 1943 until 1968, and then formally taught until 1977; and (c) the history of broadcast journalism, which he lived. Here I offer a look at his careers as broadcast journalist, educator, and author. Bliss at CBS The original anchorman, Walter Cronkite, introduced Ed Bliss at the Radio-Tele- vision News Directors Association's (RTNDA's) Paul White Award dinner in 1993 as simply one of the greatest-perhaps the greatest-of broadcast editors. At CBS, where he perfected the art of writing news for broadcast, Bliss's colleagues knew him for his excellent writing skills, news judgment, and integrity (Freeman, 1989, p. 53). These qualities, coupled with a gentle spirit, made Bliss an outstanding educator dur- ing his second career. Like many early broadcast journalists, Bliss began his news career in print. He first worked at a small town newspaper in Bucyrus, Ohio, in 1935. Bliss had gradu- ated from Yale that year; he originally majored in premed to follow in his doctor- father's footsteps but decided to go into journalism instead (M. Murray, 1994). In 1936, he moved on to a paper in Columbus, serving as reporter and state editor (Freeman, 1989). Erika Engstrom (Ph.D., University of Florida) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Her research interests include women in broadcast journalism and reality television. @ 2005 Broadcast Education Association Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media 49(2), 2005, pp. 251-257

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