Walter Cronkite: what his integrity means to conservation

This may be a bit off topic, but I believe it's worthy to note the passing of Walter Cronkite yesterday. The sum total of his career as a journalist and news anchorman is a reflection of what good journalism is all about - something that at times is sorely lacking in today's world of social media, blogs, and the floundering state of many news organizations.

There's a whole generation now that has missed out. Edward R. Murrow, Walter Cronkite, Chet Huntley and David Brinkley - these are legendary newsmen who took their responsibility in getting the news right very seriously. They were not infallible but they brought a consistent level of integrity to their work. And because of that, we felt better informed as a nation to the issues that were of lasting importance.

With today's information outlets tempting many passionate conservationists to vent personal opinions (and sometimes offensive language) that alienate parties or distort the facts, it's important to look back on people like Walter Cronkite for inspiration in making factual, accurate arguments and presenting reasoned positions that can persuade decision-makers and the public at large to consider the future of the planet and what needs to be done to protect it.

"And that's the way it is . . ." Thank you, Mr. Cronkite, for continuing a tradition of journalistic integrity. We'll try to keep it that way.