Best TV interpretation or documentary on foreign affairs
AWARD YEAR: 1981
AWARD NAME: The Edward R. Murrow Award
AWARD RECIPIENT: CBS News
AWARD RECIPIENT AFFILIATION: CBS News
AWARD HONORED WORK: “The Russians”
For this program, part of a CBS Reports series on “The Defense of the United States,” Walter Cronkite visited Moscow to draw a picture of America and its defense posture as seen through the eyes of the Russians. In interviews with Russian authorities vague about their exact posts and guarded in their comments; with Western reporters with broad experience and insights, and probing through published Soviet propaganda on missiles, space, and military, Cronkite skillfully defined the gap in understanding between Russia and the U.S. – and in doing so, made a substantial contribution to lessening that gap.
A Citation for Excellence was awarded to ABC News Closeup for “Japan: Myths Behind the Miracle.”
Judges: David z. Shefrin, Marcel Martin. Arthur Unger.