Edward R Murrow's View of Television From 57 Years Ago Is Still Relevant Today

57 years ago, broadcaster Edward R. Murrow delivered a speech now known as "wires and lights in a box" in which he expressed concern about what he believed was happening to radio and television, stating “I am seized with an abiding fear regarding what these two instruments are doing to our society, our culture and our heritage.”

Today, with television choked by unrealistic “reality” shows, rant filled politicians, pontificating journalist, self-branded celebrities and Presidential candidates deemed debate winners or losers as if they are contestants in a talent show, Edward R Murrow’s words from 57 years ago are still appropriate and sadly prophetic.

In his speech, Murrow challenged the establishment (radio and television networks, advertising agencies and sponsors) to offer intelligent, informative, thought provoking, illuminating programming.

Below are a few passages from that speech.

“Our history will be what we make it. And if there are any historians about fifty or a hundred years from now, and there should be preserved the kinescopes for one week of all three networks, they will there find recorded in black and white, or perhaps in color, evidence of decadence, escapism and insulation from the realities of the world in which we live. I invite your attention to the television schedules of all networks between the hours of 8 and 11 p.m., Eastern Time. Here you will find only fleeting and spasmodic reference to the fact that this nation is in mortal danger. There are, it is true, occasional informative programs presented in that intellectual ghetto on Sunday afternoons. But during the daily peak viewing periods, television in the main insulates us from the realities of the world in which we live. If this state of affairs continues, we may alter an advertising slogan to read: LOOK NOW, AND PAY LATER.

For surely we shall pay for using this most powerful instrument of communication to insulate the citizenry from the hard and demanding realities which must indeed be faced if we are to survive.

I am entirely persuaded that the American public is more reasonable, restrained and more mature than most of our industry's program planners believe.

To those who say people wouldn't look; they wouldn't be interested; they're too complacent, indifferent and insulated, I can only reply: There is, in one reporter's opinion, considerable evidence against that contention. But even if they are right, what have they got to lose? Because if they are right, and this instrument is good for nothing but to entertain, amuse and insulate, then the tube is flickering now and we will soon see that the whole struggle is lost. This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and even it can inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise, it's nothing but wires and lights in a box.”