The News as It Happened

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About This Exhibit

The 1960s and 1970s, described by reporter Jim Squires as journalism’s golden age, was defined by such iconic cultural and political developments as the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, and Watergate. It was a time when the role of journalists in society had never carried more weight, and a time when the news was valued on a national level. The 1960s and 1970s, described by reporter Jim Squires as journalism’s golden age, was defined by such iconic cultural and political developments as the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, and Watergate. It was a time when the role of journalists in society had never carried more weight, and a time when the news was valued on a national level. Tennesseans Jim Squires, Jack Hurst, Jack Corn, and Charles Bissell rose to prominence during this period, embodying a spirit of insightful and reliable reporting through their respective coverage and careers. Editor and journalist Squires, music journalist Hurst, photojournalist Corn, and political cartoonist Bissell reported on social problems from Appalachian poverty to racial tensions in Nashville. The collective efforts of these journalists and others like them facilitated productive cultural and political discourse that gave way to an informed citizenry and ushered in an era of indispensable news coverage and thought-provoking journalism.

Realistic Tape Recorder

Creator Realistic Company

Date circa 1975

Language English

Identifier Cassette Tape Recorder

Source Jack Hurst Collection, Vanderbilt University Special Collections

For roughly three decades, Hurst recorded every interview he had with country music stars like Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson. He believed that these were the stories worth sharing and preserving. The struggle that many musicians came from resonated with him. As Hurst struggled with shorthand and notetaking, this tape recorder acted as a record of the interview.

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