The Unforgettable Tragedy: The JFK Assassination and the Birth of Live TV News Coverage

Accident – Death – Obituary News : On November 22, 1963, the world witnessed a historic moment in media as CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite announced the tragic death of President Kennedy. This event marked the beginning of a new era in journalism, with the three major television networks – NBC, CBS, and ABC – staying on the air for four days to provide live, continuous coverage of the national crisis. This unprecedented coverage set the template for the decades that followed, as viewers grew accustomed to witnessing significant events unfold in real time.

Unlike the current media landscape where there are numerous outlets for consumers to catch up on demand, everyone watched the JFK tragedy and its aftermath simultaneously. Former CBS News anchor Dan Rather recalls that “the only thing on television anywhere in the country was the Kennedy assassination.” The footage of the network and local TV coverage can still be found on YouTube and is often featured in documentaries and re-examinations of the event.

Film director Rob Reiner, who recently collaborated with journalist Soledad O’Brien on a podcast about the Kennedy assassination, reflects on the impact of that day. Reiner remembers being sent home from school and spending the weekend captivated by the wall-to-wall coverage. He states, “For those of us who were around at the time, it just never leaves you.”

O’Brien, a former CNN anchor, notes the restraint shown by journalists during this coverage. She points out that unlike today, there wasn’t the “over-the-top coverage” and that “no one is saying anything they’re not sure about.” This measured approach to reporting reflects the standards of the time.

The limited visual documentation of the Kennedy assassination has contributed to public skepticism and generated conspiracy theories. Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, emphasizes that if the event had occurred today, with the prevalence of smartphones, there would have been a multitude of angles captured. This scarcity of visual evidence has fueled speculation about what truly happened that day.

During Kennedy’s presidency, television was still a relatively new medium, and the country relied primarily on newspapers and radio for news. Network TV coverage was limited to evening newscasts and planned big events. However, the Kennedy assassination changed everything. The raw video feeds from Dallas pre-empted all regular programming and captivated the nation.

The images broadcasted during those four days resembled a noir crime drama at times. The shocking killing of Kennedy’s assailant, Lee Harvey Oswald, was even aired live on NBC. This unprecedented coverage allowed viewers to witness every moment of the aftermath in real time.

The networks played a crucial role in helping the nation mourn, with the first presidential funeral ever broadcasted live on TV. The medium became a “living room town hall” where Americans could gather and try to cope with the tragedy.

The journalists who covered the event saw their careers elevated. Five of them went on to become network TV anchors, including Bob Schieffer and Dan Rather at CBS, Robert MacNeil and Jim Lehrer at PBS, and Peter Jennings at ABC. For Rather, who reported on the president’s death ahead of the White House confirmation, this coverage solidified his place at CBS and eventually led to him becoming Cronkite’s successor.

The JFK assassination was a pivotal moment in media history. It marked the beginning of live, continuous coverage of major events, setting the stage for the 24-hour cable news and internet era we know today. The restraint shown by journalists during this coverage contrasts with the sensationalism often seen in modern reporting. The limited visual documentation of the event has fueled conspiracy theories and public skepticism. Nevertheless, the impact of that day and the subsequent coverage still resonates with those who witnessed it firsthand..