On Saturday, we lost yet another true American legend: former CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite. Those of us who were not alive during the 60s and 70s, the heyday of his career, can’t completely understand what made Cronkite such an icon, but we can all feel the sorrow around us as a result of his passing.

So why was Cronkite billed as the most trusted man in American during his tenure at CBS? If you look at his résumé, it is quite impressive; Cronkite reported on several historic (and tragic) events, including the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. His brand of journalism – “report the news, don’t become it” – has been praised by his contemporaries as well as by today’s top journalists. His coverage of the following events makes him a journalism legend:

Kennedy assassination
Cronkite is perhaps best known for breaking the news of the Kennedy assassination live on November 22, 1963. The footage of the broadcast is fascinating to watch; in spite of the nature of the story (as it is the first time such news was broadcast on live television), Cronkite maintained his composure and reported as a journalist should, although there was noticeable emotion in his voice after he read the official AP bulletin reporting that JFK was dead.

Vietnam War coverage
In February of 1968, Cronkite reported on the aftermath of the Tet Offensive from Vietnam. When he returned, he filed an editorial report confirming that the situation in Vietnam was not close to victory, but rather a difficult stalemate out of which the U.S. would have to negotiate. After the story aired, President Lyndon Johnson reportedly said, “If I’ve lost Cronkite, I’ve lost Middle America.” Johnson did not seek reelection that year. Read More »

(We’re back with another weekly installment of G.W.W.E. [Guys We Wanna Eff]. With all the news retrospectives airing to close out 2008, we thought it was about time to pay homage to our favorite journalist, the infinitely effable Anderson Cooper. )

Let me make no mistake: Anderson Cooper is a stone cold F-O-X. They should change the call letters of his station from CNN to E-F-F, because when I tune in, all I see are Anderson’s steely blue eyes telling me he wants to jump my bones.

But Anderson isn’t just a journalistic automaton–the guy’s got substance. After graduating from Yale, he didn’t have a job and simply decided to fly himself to far-flung locales like Burma and Somalia to cover wars as a freelance journalist, which he wrote about in his book. He gained recognition for his hard-hitting news coverage, landing him a spot as a CNN reporter and anchor of the program Anderson Cooper 360. Known for his grit and endurance for reporting across the globe, Anderson also starred in the documentary Planet in Peril, about the most critical environmental issues facing the earth today.

But all work and no play would make Anderson a very dull boy. He is well-known for being down-to-earth and plugged in to today’s popular culture. He’s a BIG fan of Real Housewives of Atlanta, (as he’s professed on many talk shows), and has a Facebook and a Twitter. He made a big splash a few weeks ago (literally!) when he challenged Olympic swimming legend Michael Phelps to a mini-swimming race. Anderson may have lost the race, but ladies won the chance to see our favorite journo jock shirtless on national television. Most recently, he co-hosted CNN’s New Year’s Eve special with Kathy Griffin (whose wild remarks have been the talk of bloggerati since yesterday), where he professed his resolution to blog more in 2009. Will I be hanging on his every effable word? Yes, yes I will.

Don’t worry, I’ve read all the gossip. I could care less if he loves men, women, or panda bears–I’d like to dispatch Mr. Cooper to my bed to experience some of his hard-hitting coverage. “Anderson Cooper’s Effability” is the only breaking story on my news feed.

Remember George Bush? Yeah, that guy. The one who lives in the White House and makes executive decisions. No, the one before Barack Obama.

Where did he go? Where has he been since the entire economy started collapsing?

I know! I forgot about him too. Well, he finally made an appearance outside the White House over the weekend and boy did everyone miss him! So much so that they gave him an extra warm welcome at a press conference in Iraq. Throwing shoes at someone’s head is a warm welcome, isn’t it?

Good thing Georgie has some quick reflexes. And that it wasn’t a woman lobbing a stiletto at his face. Poor guy never would have had a chance.

Anne Pressley, 26, was gorgeous, intelligent, and a rising star as a local television news anchor in Little Rock, Arkansas. But her promising life was cut short just over a month ago, when she was found in her home on October 20th beaten beyond recognition. Never regaining consciousness from her attack, she died five days later from complications of her injuries.

While her story gained worldwide attention, the world wondered: who could have wanted to kill such a kind-hearted, hard-working young woman?

Over a month passed since Pressly’s death, and the police had not named any suspects nor possible motives for the murder, only stating that they believed it was a robbery gone bad. But on November 26th, police in Little Rock arrested 28-year-old Curtis Lavelle Vance for the beating death of Anne Pressly. They did not disclose what led them to arresting Vance, only stating police would have to remain “very tightlipped” before trial.

Then Pressly’s parents, Patti and Guy Cannady emerged on television with riveting new details about the case. Yesterday they appeared on The Today Show stating that there was evidence of their daughter being sexually assaulted during the beating, and furthermore that she broke her hand trying to fight off her attacker. They shared gruesome details about Pressly’s physical condition, including that “every bone in her face was broken,” and immediately condemned Vance as her killer. Mrs. Cannady said that Vance is a “monster [who] stole my daughter’s innocence. He took her life,” while Mr. Cannady added, “I think he could have been a stalker.” Read More »

You might know Adrian Grenier as the slightly smug, slightly self-centered, but always adorable Vince from HBO’s hit Entourage. Although I personally think the show’s success has a lot to do with the hilarity of the character actors (including my personal skeevy love Jeremy Piven), Grenier certainly plays a major role in attracting viewers—a fact he has obviously let infect his brain and speech pattern.

As reported by a Radar journalist, Grenier recently showed up at a Lower East Side (read: skinny jeans and soul patches) party and spoke some choice words to a lady he apparently fancied. Instead of attempting to have a nice conversation like the rest of us common folk, Grenier the celebrity went straight for the kill—because, well, he thought he could.

Transcribed via Radar:

Adrian: Hi, what’s your name?

Brunette: [Giggling. It is obvious she knows who he is; she is flattered that he has approached her] Elizabeth*. What’s yours?

Adrian: Adrian.

Brunette: Nice to meet you! And what do you do, Adrian?

Adrian: I make documentary films.

Brunette: Oh really?

Adrian: Yeah. And some other stuff on the side. What about you?

Brunette: I’m in fashion.

Adrian: That’s cool. So how about we go home and I f*ck the sh*t out of you? Read More »