Ted Turner was a legend in the media, a man that pioneered free speech to no end and who continued this fight well into his later life. On May 6, he passed away at age 87 following a long and weary battle with dementia. Despite the circumstances, Turner lived a fulfilled life, full of passion not just for broadcasting but for a variety of activities he was fortunate to pursue.
Turner was from Ohio and has been given the nickname “The Mouth of the South” as a revolutionary in creating the 24 hour news cycle, a moment that transformed news forever, not only launching CNN but CNN International and Turner Classic Movies. However, Turner cannot have known what this cycle had turned into.
Bill Poff, a broadcasting teacher, has opinions on the death of this phenomenal legend, but more on how the industry and news cycle has changed in his absence.
“I mean, his work was extraordinary and probably life changing…but today’s news cycle cannot be what he expected, humans can’t possibly be expected to listen to this much information at all hours of the day,” Poff said.
Eli Hills (12) agrees with the statement that the news world won’t live up to Turner’s expectations. Later stating that kids today don’t watch the news, it’s too much information.
“Its just too much to constantly be watching” as he explains that sometimes the more important news isn’t even featured, covering more trivial matters instead of what could be benefiting Americans.
Despite the feelings around today’s news cycle, Turner left behind the determination that today’s media needs to keep on task and stick to the important headlines. In his later life he struggled with long term dementia, called Lewy body dementia. Despite initially sharing his dementia diagnosis in 2018, Turner and his family had kept the disease under wraps. But he did tell CBS Sunday in an interview back in 2018 that this progressive brain disorder had left him tired and quite weary, as well as forgetful.
Turner, however, isn’t the first to suffer from this dementia type. The late actor and beloved comedian Robin Williams also died of this Lewy body dementia.
Turner will be missed by friends, family and of course for his work he was so committed to fulfilling.
Late wife and longtime friend Jane Fonda spoke out last week on his death stating that “Turner helped me believe in myself…He gave me confidence…Men like Ted aren’t supposed to express need and vulnerability,”that was Ted’s greatest strength. While divorced after a 10 year marriage, Fonda and Turner remained close companions, a support system through the illness, fog and eventual end.
Turner will be missed, remembered and cherished. From those in the media, the champions of the press and from students alike, all Americans who have harkened to the television when CNN was on.
