Anchors Away
February 13, 2015 - by
Walter Cronkite was “the most trusted man in America.” Brian Williams became the least trusted man in America overnight and had to leave the set. The same day, Jon Stewart, who had become the new most trusted man in news to many, left on his own terms. Just days before, WTVD anchor Larry Stogner, whose face and voice spelled “trust” and “pro” to many in North Carolina, left because that voice was failing him.
Williams’ tale is as old as Greek mythology: hubris. It wasn’t enough to be a network anchor and crossover star on Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock. He had to exaggerate his experiences in Iraq, apparently among others.
Stewart’s rise reflects those of us who read Mad Magazine in the 60s and love the snark and cynicism of today’s satirical media, online and on cable, especially when it’s aimed at Fox News and Republicans.
Larry Stogner is something different. He represents something true and lasting. Maybe, even, something fundamental in the North Carolina we love.
Larry is a small-town North Carolina boy who never left. He never hopped to a bigger market or took a network job. He stayed here. He stuck with us.
He is a Vietnam veteran. But he never boasted about it, or exaggerated it. He was always Larry, and he was comfortable with that.
This is personal. Larry and I were capital reporters together in the early 1970s. He covered Governor Hunt when I was Hunt’s press secretary. We both went to China with the Governor in 1979.
Now, the cruelest of diseases is robbing Larry of what outwardly made him Larry. But it can’t touch his heart, his soul or his character.
For being who he was, nothing more and nothing less, I thank him.
Posted in General
Anchors Away
February 13, 2015/
Walter Cronkite was “the most trusted man in America.” Brian Williams became the least trusted man in America overnight and had to leave the set. The same day, Jon Stewart, who had become the new most trusted man in news to many, left on his own terms. Just days before, WTVD anchor Larry Stogner, whose face and voice spelled “trust” and “pro” to many in North Carolina, left because that voice was failing him.
Williams’ tale is as old as Greek mythology: hubris. It wasn’t enough to be a network anchor and crossover star on Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock. He had to exaggerate his experiences in Iraq, apparently among others.
Stewart’s rise reflects those of us who read Mad Magazine in the 60s and love the snark and cynicism of today’s satirical media, online and on cable, especially when it’s aimed at Fox News and Republicans.
Larry Stogner is something different. He represents something true and lasting. Maybe, even, something fundamental in the North Carolina we love.
Larry is a small-town North Carolina boy who never left. He never hopped to a bigger market or took a network job. He stayed here. He stuck with us.
He is a Vietnam veteran. But he never boasted about it, or exaggerated it. He was always Larry, and he was comfortable with that.
This is personal. Larry and I were capital reporters together in the early 1970s. He covered Governor Hunt when I was Hunt’s press secretary. We both went to China with the Governor in 1979.
Now, the cruelest of diseases is robbing Larry of what outwardly made him Larry. But it can’t touch his heart, his soul or his character.
For being who he was, nothing more and nothing less, I thank him.
Posted in General