Ken Foote's Radio/TV Files: The CBS World News Roundup
How many radio networks today can say that they still have a program that started on this date in 1938? Only CBS!
On March 13, 1938 at 8pm ET, the CBS World News Roundup premiered on the CBS Radio Network. With increased uneasiness in Europe at that time which eventually led to the start of World War II, CBS needed a program to cover international events. The initial broadcast was hosted by CBS News Correspondent Robert Trout. The program was also broadcast via shortwave radio to Vienna, Paris, Berlin, London, and Rome. Most broadcast historians credit CBS founder William S. Paley and News Director Paul White for coming up with the idea as a counter to a similar one on the NBC Radio Network.
The show was a longer version than the normal CBS Radio News On The Hour. It started as 35 minutes originally. Growing up, I remember it being 15 minutes versus 6 minutes for the usual news "hourlie" (with commercial breaks). Only in the World News Roundup did you hear what is referred to as a "time check"….."Time on the Round Up, 7 minutes after the hour." Dallas Townsend was the first one I remember hearing anchoring the WNR.
Other legendary reporters that appeared or anchored the WNR were Edward R. Murrow, Winston Burdett, William L. Shirer (author of The Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich), Douglas Edwards, Ned Calmer, Reid Collins, Bill Lynch, Christopher Glenn, Eric Severeid, Charles Collingswood, and Howard K. Smith. In the past few years, Bill Whitney and Frank Settipani have hosted the show.
Happy Birthday WNR!!
See you next time.
