About the Book
"In May 1999 Kevin Klose, president of National Public Radio, invited me to a meeting of the NPR board and surprised me with a bronze plaque, emblazoned 'Lifetime Achievement Award.' I responded that, ever the copy-reader, I wished to amend the wording to, 'Lifetime Achievement So Far...'" Thus Daniel Schorr, octogenarian, newsman, and last of the legendary Edward R. Murrow news team still active in journalism, let it be known that after six decades of reporting, digging out information, and finding himself the controversial subject of some stories, he is still fully engaged in the world-watching that has made him one of America's most honored journalists.
He is both a national and an international eyewitness. At home, he has covered and analyzed major events from the McCarthy anti-Communist hearings of the 1950s to the Clinton impeachment hearings of the 1990s. As CBS's chief Watergate correspondent, he won three Emmys(R) for his coverage of that scandal -- during which he found himself on Nixon's "enemies" list.
Abroad, he opened the CBS bureau in Moscow in 1955, arranged an unprecedented television interview with Soviet boss Nikita Khrushchev, and was on hand for every major European event from the founding of NATO to the building of the Berlin Wall. At home and overseas his no-holds-barred approach to covering the news landed him in trouble with the authorities. He may be one of the only journalists investigated by both the KGB and the FBI.
In the 1970s, Schorr's revelations of CIA and FBI misdeeds brought him into a confrontation with Congress. Refusing to name his sources before the House Ethics Committee, he was threatened with jail for contempt -- a threat that was not carried out. He also came into confrontation with CBS, his employer, leading to his resignation.
A multimedia journalist, Schorr has worked in newspapers, radio, and television. Today, he runs around less, but is still probing. In Staying Tuned, he reflects on the role of the media in our society, expressing concerns about television's assault on reality.
As to how life has changed for him, Schorr says: "In my days as an investigative reporter, my motto was, 'Find out what they're hiding and tell those who need to know.' In my more sedentary days, the motto changed to, 'The people know a lot. Tell them what to make of it.'"
Review :
Doris Kearns Goodwin How I love this book! "Staying Tuned" is uplifting evidence that integrity in journalism still exists. Schorr is a remarkably shrewd and honest observer about himself, his colleagues, and his beloved profession.
E.J. Dionne Jr. Syndicated columnist for "The Washington Post" God gave Daniel Schorr the chance to be present at almost all the important moments in the history of the last sixty years, the guts to probe and challenge the participants, and the genius to describe them with clarity and eloquence. This book is a joy for today's readers, and it will be a treasure trove for those who try years from now to understand who we were and why we did what we did.
William Safire "The New York Times" One of the great broadcast journalists of our timescrupulously honest, historically fair, fearless, forthright, and sometimes deliciously insightful.
Doris Kearns Goodwin How I love this book! Staying Tuned is uplifting evidence that integrity in journalism still exists. Schorr is a remarkably shrewd and honest observer about himself, his colleagues, and his beloved profession.
E.J. Dionne Jr. Syndicated columnist for The Washington Post God gave Daniel Schorr the chance to be present at almost all the important moments in the history of the last sixty years, the guts to probe and challenge the participants, and the genius to describe them with clarity and eloquence. This book is a joy for today's readers, and it will be a treasure trove for those who try years from now to understand who we were and why we did what we did.
Judith Viorst The stories are delicious, the recall is astounding, the insights are witty and shrewdand the writing sings. This thoroughly engaging memoir only proves what his legions of fans already know: that when there's something to tell, nobody tells it better than Dan Schorr, America's master commentator and moral compass.
Michael Beschloss Presidential historian One of the great journalists of our time shows how he did it in a fascinating and thoughtful book that combines the best of memoir and contemporary history.
Walter Cronkite This is Schorr's detailed report on why numerous heads of state and other officials have called him a son-of-a-bitch. In reciting that result of his aggressive reporting, he also fascinates with much of the inside history of our last half century.
William Safire The New York Times One of the great broadcast journalists of our timescrupulously honest, historically fair, fearless, forthright, and sometimes deliciously insightful.
Doris Kearns GoodwinHow I love this book! "Staying Tuned" is uplifting evidence that integrity in journalism still exists. Schorr is a remarkably shrewd and honest observer about himself, his colleagues, and his beloved profession.
E.J. Dionne Jr.Syndicated columnist for "The Washington Post"
God gave Daniel Schorr the chance to be present at almost all the important moments in the history of the last sixty years, the guts to probe and challenge the participants, and the genius to describe them with clarity and eloquence. This book is a joy for today's readers, and it will be a treasure trove for those who try years from now to understand who we were and why we did what we did.
Judith ViorstThe stories are delicious, the recall is astounding, the insights are witty and shrewdand the writing sings. This thoroughly engaging memoir only proves what his legions of fans already know: that when there's something to tell, nobody tells it better than Dan Schorr, America's master commentator and moral compass.
Michael BeschlossPresidential historian
One of the great journalists of our time shows how he did it in a fascinating and thoughtful book that combines the best of memoir and contemporary history.
Walter CronkiteThis is Schorr's detailed report on why numerous heads of state and other officials have called him a son-of-a-bitch. In reciting that result of his aggressive reporting, he also fascinates with much of the inside history of our last half century.
William Safire"The New York Times"
One of the great broadcast journalists of our timescrupulously honest, historically fair, fearless, forthright, and sometimes deliciously insightful.
