This blog title will not mean much to anyone who has not lived in New York City these past 60 or so years. But for us who grew up in New York City, or spent time living there, it is a sad time.
I found this out from a high school friend yesterday.
On August 25 at midnight, New York City bid farewell to WCBS News Radio 880, after 100 years of service. The last 57 years were all news, all the time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I was entering high school when the format changed to all news in August, 1967. Even now, it was still broadcasting the old fashioned way. Listeners got information, not just sound bites or political opinions.
This video contains a series of air checks on the final night of broadcast. There's no need to listen to all 15 plus minutes, but the last three or so minutes almost brought me to tears.
"Our news desert is getting bigger and drier", the announcer (Wayne Cabot, 36 year veteran of WCBS News 880) said. After a few more tributes, he got personal, as the Beatles song "Imagine" played towards the end. He talked about how he found WCBS for the first time during a trip to New York City. “I thank my dad for driving me into New York City in 1978,” Cabot said. “Parents—you never know what impact these random acts of love and attention may have on your children.”
Cabot reminded us that local journalism is in danger. He remarked, "With each closing newspaper, radio newsroom, TV newsroom, magazine, now, even digital news operations, the country we love is diminished...we implore you to find that next trusted source. Use it. Support it. In word and in deed.
It is the most patriotic thing you can do."
"Good night and good luck", he said, the late Edward R. Murrow's sign off.
This New York Post article has more information.
May WCBS News Radio 880 rest in peace, along with too many other journalistic sources.
... I don't know about WCBS, but when I was young I liked to listen to "clear channel" station from across the country.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad when something familiar is removed, abandoned, gone. I don't like the way news is so often news bites, repeated ad nauseam. In-depth analysis is hard to come by on main channels.
ReplyDeleteI miss that kind of "news" news.
ReplyDeleteWay of life ~ change is the one constant besides taxes ~ It sounds like a great show that you will miss ~ Finding that more and more 'goods' I like are no longer available ~ so living with what I have ~ hugs ~
ReplyDeleteWishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
clm ~ A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
I have a love/hate relationship with the press from my personal experience, but, at least it is way better than folks who get their 'news' from Facebook. I miss Walter Cronkite.
ReplyDeleteSo it's now another ESPN station where you can listen to them talk football 24/7...
ReplyDeleteI don't like it when something I am used to is gone.
ReplyDeleteThis kind of news is fun to watch
ReplyDeleteWhat a tragedy. Too many news outlets are closing. At the worst possible time.
ReplyDeleteThat is sad. We need more of these stations, not less
ReplyDelete