When the News Broke

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A riveting account of the 1968 Democratic convention's network broadcasts and their impact on American media trust. As protestors shouted, “The whole world is watching!” Chicago police clashed with them, leading to shocking scenes aired on television. Reactions varied from outrage to justification, with few, including Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley, pleased with the coverage. Heather Hendershot revisits the chaotic four days, highlighting not only the street violence but also the convention's internal strife, where Black citizens and anti-Vietnam delegates confronted exclusion and sought policy changes. Journalists faced intimidation from Daley's security and party leaders. Hendershot positions this convention as a crucial moment in political history, marking the rise of a distorted notion of “liberal media bias” that became mainstream. She also honors the network news professionals who aimed for fairness and accuracy. Despite their dedication, the events in Chicago marked a turning point in public trust towards national news sources. The political Right has since intensified skepticism towards TV news, leading to the dismissal of even well-documented stories as “fake.” Ultimately, Hendershot illustrates that it matters little if “the whole world is watching” if the audience does not trust what they see.