Charles Collingwood (journalist)
Encyclopedia
Charles Collingwood was a television newscaster.
Born in Three Rivers, Michigan
, Collingwood graduated from Deep Springs College
and Cornell University
and in 1939 received a Rhodes Scholarship
to study at Oxford University. After working in London for United Press, Collingwood was hired by Edward R. Murrow
during the Second World War (one of Murrow's Boys
) and quickly became known as an urbane and spontaneously eloquent on-air journalist. He was part of a group of early television journalists that included Walter Cronkite
, Eric Sevareid
, and Murrow himself.
One of his first roles on television was as host of the CBS documentary series Adventure
, produced in collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History
. He went on to become chief correspondent of CBS and host of its Eyewitness to History
series. He was a leading figure in CBS's expansion to include international coverage. He reported from the Normandy invasion (at Omaha Beach
), Vietnam
, the White House
, and numerous other sites.
In the late 1960s, Collingwood was the first U.S. reporter allowed into North Vietnam, which was at war with U.S.-backed South Vietnam and the American troops stationed there. The visit was largely the inspiration for Collingwood's 1970 espionage novel, "The Defector." The book received critical praise for its merits as a thriller and for its insights into the complexities of the Vietnam War.
Collingwood served as substitute anchor during portions of CBS' coverage of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy
, relieving Walter Cronkite
only minutes after Cronkite had announced official confirmation of the President's death.
Collingwood retired in 1982. He died from cancer
on October 3, 1985.
Born in Three Rivers, Michigan
Three Rivers, Michigan
Three Rivers is a city in St. Joseph County in the US state of Michigan. The population was 7,811 at the 2010 census.Three Rivers derives its name from the confluence of the St. Joseph River with its tributaries the Rocky and Portage Rivers. It is the home of St...
, Collingwood graduated from Deep Springs College
Deep Springs College
Deep Springs is a private, all-male , alternative college in Deep Springs, California, in the United States. A two-year college, the institution currently aims for a student body size of 26, though the number is occasionally lower...
and Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
and in 1939 received a Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
to study at Oxford University. After working in London for United Press, Collingwood was hired by Edward R. Murrow
Edward R. Murrow
Edward Roscoe Murrow, KBE was an American broadcast journalist. He first came to prominence with a series of radio news broadcasts during World War II, which were followed by millions of listeners in the United States and Canada.Fellow journalists Eric Sevareid, Ed Bliss, and Alexander Kendrick...
during the Second World War (one of Murrow's Boys
Murrow's Boys
Murrow’s Boys, or “The Murrow Boys,” were the CBS broadcast journalists most closely associated with Edward R. Murrow during his years at the network, most notably the years before and during World War II....
) and quickly became known as an urbane and spontaneously eloquent on-air journalist. He was part of a group of early television journalists that included Walter Cronkite
Walter Cronkite
Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr. was an American broadcast journalist, best known as anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19 years . During the heyday of CBS News in the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited as "the most trusted man in America" after being so named in an opinion poll...
, Eric Sevareid
Eric Sevareid
Arnold Eric Sevareid was a CBS news journalist from 1939 to 1977. He was one of a group of elite war correspondents—dubbed "Murrow's Boys"—because they were hired by pioneering CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow....
, and Murrow himself.
One of his first roles on television was as host of the CBS documentary series Adventure
Adventure (TV series)
Adventure is a documentary television series that aired on CBS beginning in 1953. The series was produced in collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History and hosted by Charles Collingwood...
, produced in collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
. He went on to become chief correspondent of CBS and host of its Eyewitness to History
Eyewitness to History
Eyewitness to History was a CBS Friday night public affairs program which was initially hosted by veteran broadcaster Charles Kuralt , followed by Walter Cronkite , and Charles Collingwood . It aired from September 30, 1960 through July 26, 1963, sponsored by Firestone Tire and Rubber Company...
series. He was a leading figure in CBS's expansion to include international coverage. He reported from the Normandy invasion (at Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach is the code name for one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during World War II...
), Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
, and numerous other sites.
In the late 1960s, Collingwood was the first U.S. reporter allowed into North Vietnam, which was at war with U.S.-backed South Vietnam and the American troops stationed there. The visit was largely the inspiration for Collingwood's 1970 espionage novel, "The Defector." The book received critical praise for its merits as a thriller and for its insights into the complexities of the Vietnam War.
Collingwood served as substitute anchor during portions of CBS' coverage of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy assassination
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States, was assassinated at 12:30 p.m. Central Standard Time on Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas...
, relieving Walter Cronkite
Walter Cronkite
Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr. was an American broadcast journalist, best known as anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19 years . During the heyday of CBS News in the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited as "the most trusted man in America" after being so named in an opinion poll...
only minutes after Cronkite had announced official confirmation of the President's death.
Personal life
He was married to actress Louise Allbritton from 1946 until her death from cancer in 1979. He later married singer Tatiana Jolin and remained married to her until his death.Collingwood retired in 1982. He died from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
on October 3, 1985.