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Fred Friendly: The Minnesota Rag That Shaped American Television News

Leo Tolstoy

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Minnesota Rag

by Fred W. Friendly

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Fred Friendly was a pioneering television news producer who helped shape the medium in its early days. He was born in Hamilton, Ohio, in 1915, and began his career in journalism as a reporter for the Cincinnati Enquirer. In 1940, he joined CBS News, where he quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the executive producer of the legendary news program See It Now in 1953.

See It Now was a groundbreaking program that tackled tough issues and held the powerful to account. It was one of the first programs to use the medium of television to tell stories in a way that was both informative and engaging. Friendly's work on See It Now earned him a Peabody Award and a George Foster Peabody Award, and helped to establish CBS News as a leader in the field of television journalism.

In 1959, Friendly left CBS News to become the president of the Ford Foundation's Fund for the Advancement of Education. In this role, he helped to fund innovative educational programs, including the development of public television in the United States. Friendly also served as a member of the Carnegie Commission on Educational Television, which helped to shape the future of public broadcasting in the United States.

Friendly died in 1998 at the age of 82. He is remembered as one of the most influential figures in the history of television journalism. His work helped to establish the medium as a powerful tool for informing the public and holding the powerful to account.

Early Life and Career

Fred Friendly was born in Hamilton, Ohio, on October 19, 1915. His father was a Methodist minister, and his mother was a schoolteacher. Friendly attended Hamilton High School, where he was a star athlete and a member of the debate team. After graduating from high school, Friendly attended the University of Michigan, where he majored in journalism.

After graduating from college, Friendly worked as a reporter for the Cincinnati Enquirer. In 1940, he joined CBS News, where he quickly rose through the ranks. In 1948, he became the executive producer of the CBS Evening News, and in 1953, he became the executive producer of See It Now.

See It Now

One of the most famous episodes of See It Now was a 1954 report on Senator Joseph McCarthy. McCarthy was a Republican senator from Wisconsin who had made a name for himself by accusing communists of infiltrating the U.S. government. Friendly's report on McCarthy exposed the senator's tactics and helped to bring about his downfall.

See It Now also produced a number of other groundbreaking reports, including a report on the civil rights movement, a report on the Vietnam War, and a report on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Later Career

Legacy

Fred Friendly's legacy is one of innovation, integrity, and public service. He was a pioneer in the field of television journalism, and his work helped to shape the medium into the powerful tool for informing the public that it is today.

Friendly's work on See It Now is particularly noteworthy. This program was one of the first to use the medium of television to tackle tough issues and hold the powerful to account. Friendly's work on See It Now helped to establish CBS News as a leader in the field of television journalism, and it also helped to raise the standards for television news reporting.

Friendly's work has had a lasting impact on the field of television journalism. His legacy is one of innovation, integrity, and public service, and he is remembered as one of the most influential figures in the history of the medium.