Rachel Maddow The New Walter Cronkite: John Steinbeck's Son

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow was announced the winner of the prestigious John Steinbeck Award on Monday. In addition to being honored with the award, Maddow was also the recipient of a major compliment from Thomas Steinbeck, John Steinbeck's son.

Speaking of Maddow, Steinbeck was quoted in the official release as likening Maddow to the great Walter Cronkite. He said, "My father would have adored Rachel Maddow...Listening to Rachel Maddow is like listening to Walter Cronkite. We have that kind of trust in her...I hope she’s in it for the long haul, because we really need her."

The Martha Heasley Cox Center for Steinbeck Studies is part of San Jose State University. According to the Center's website, the award is "given to writers and artists whose work captures the spirit of Steinbeck's empathy, commitment to democratic values, and beliefs in the dignity of people who by circumstance are pushed to the fringes."

Previous award recipients include Bruce Springsteen, Arthur Miller, Joan Baez, Sean Penn, and Michael Moore.

This is not the first time Maddow's name has been associated with legendary broadcaster. Maddow was awarded the The Interfaith Alliance's Walter Cronkite Faith and Freedom award in August 2010.

Comments

[total frizz]

09:33 AM on 04/08/2012

I appreciate that she researches reliable sources and admits when she gets something wrong. It says something that the primary candidates have avoided a live interview with her -- although I thought John Huntsman might. My only objection is her reliance on s nark to get her point across. If I want comedy, I go to The Daily Show. Give me news and your awesome analysis, but chill on the snark.

[omegapoint]

03:57 PM on 03/13/2012

My pick would be Ezra Klein. He really should have a show-possibly improve MSNBC content and direction.

[omegapoint]

03:53 PM on 03/13/2012

Too giddy to be Cronkite. Half the time she wants to be Jon Stewart.

[Parkite]

09:13 AM on 04/08/2012

Our world is a better place because of Walter, Jon & Rachel.

[sporttrac]

11:39 PM on 03/11/2012

"Maddow is like listening to Walter Cronkite. We have that kind of trust in her...I hope she’s in it for the long haul, because we really need her."

Bigger than Life :) Yes, really need her...be well Rachael Maddow!

[BobbyNCorpus]

05:01 PM on 02/10/2012

There is a group of young intellects who are on the verge bringing the ideas and class of teh new genertion into our minds>Rachal ,jon Steward,st ephen Colbert are leading the charge. Thomas, Orilley, Beck , Colter are headed for the dust binof history. The sooner teh geneationof hate is gone the better.

[Googie Bergdorff]

07:39 AM on 02/10/2012

How bizarre. She isn't even a journalist, she's an opinion poodle.

[Parkite]

09:17 AM on 04/08/2012

It is NOT a JOURNALISM award. Read what the award is given for.

[fast700score]

09:08 PM on 02/08/2012

She is a little worm with a mega-ego, zero audience, and she should get on her knees pray that her show does not get canceled!! W.Cronkite is rolling in his grave. What a waste!!

[Blossom Bradley]

10:56 AM on 02/26/2012

seriously? http://www.politicususa.com/en/maddow-olbermann-msnbc

[Marlyn]

03:46 PM on 02/08/2012

Wonderful. Rachel is the best.

[lucy88lucy]

03:44 PM on 02/08/2012

This a joke right? I guess if her moustache comes in and she sits up straight (not leaning to the left) she might look like him maybe, but that's it.

[Blossom Bradley]

10:58 AM on 02/26/2012

wow, all these people commenting about what a "joke" this is must mean she's getting to them. or maybe after listening to faux news for so long, you're just not sure you know good journalism when you see it, or know the truth when you hear it.

[mustraline]

02:04 PM on 02/08/2012

Not yet. Rachel has about 25-30 more years of reporting to get to Cronkite level. She is far and away the best choice amongst the crew on TV today.

[Al Vaught]

01:12 PM on 02/08/2012

Rachel is the best political commentator on TV. She is fair with her reporting and deserves every award she gets.

[AlwaysRight213]

01:01 PM on 02/08/2012

The only similarities I see is they both have the ability to grow a moustache.

[Free2BeMe]

01:37 PM on 02/08/2012

Republican Playbook Rule # 9 .....Make baseless accusations to disparage someone who has sterling credentials.

[lucy88lucy]

03:41 PM on 02/08/2012

Great point, she really is a confused person who dresses like a guy (while leaning to the left)

[simba007]

10:02 AM on 02/09/2012

what is 'dresses like a guy' look like? If it's pants then look around; majority of American women wear pants; does that make them 'guys'?

[Bleulou]

12:25 PM on 02/08/2012

Maddow couldn't hold Cronkite's cup of coffee. The days of the Cronkite's are gone, it’s all about ratings and do whatever it takes to get people to tune in (which Maddow has next to zippy viewership).

Maddow like the rest of MSNBC struggles to get ratings, I guess they don’t care that most people can’t swallow the agenda that they are trying to shove down their viewers throat. I guess we are not smart enough to understand their point!

There's only one Cronkite....

[cowboycliff]

01:02 PM on 02/08/2012

While I love Rachel Maddow, it may be a bit too soon to make this comparison to Cronkite. I have to agree that the days of Cronkite are gone, and I mourn the loss. To me, the day Cronkite turned his mike over to Dan Rather is the day TV journalism went from news to entertainment. He was the only adult in the room and now he is gone. The consequences are grave indeed; Fox News and Rush Limbough are just two examples of the germs which have come out of Pandora's box to infect the airwaves. There is only one solution, which is education. And we can see where that is going with the sweeping cuts in education around the country. But give Rachel a few years to prove herself further. She is clearly capable and has made an excellent start. She cares about the country. The others mainly care about advertizing dollars and their carreers. Go Rachel!

[KayoFrisco]

01:54 PM on 02/08/2012

Bleulou, TV is never shoved "down their viewers throat". You can always turn the channel.
But, you may not be "not smart enough to understand" how to use the remote because you only watch Faux News.
The "ratings" argument against valid news, analysis, or opinion is a logical fallacy called an "ad populum" argument. Sorry, but you have to go to the debating skills penalty box. That's "5 For Fighting", hockey fans.
http://philosophy.lander.edu/logic/popular.html

BTW, I did learn the difference between the ad hominem and ad populum fallacies from Rachel!

[Bleulou]

02:55 PM on 02/08/2012

Yes you are very wise, one can turn the channel, which most who watch MSNBC are doing in droves. You can have Maddow convince you with $10 words why people aren’t watching her show, but for me I keep it simple… I don’t agree with her slant on life and it appears I’m in the majority..

[Rangergirl]

11:41 AM on 02/08/2012

Congrats Rachel you are the best.

[adnull29]

11:29 AM on 02/08/2012

Rachel's great - we need more like her.