Walter Cronkite signed off — and trust in the press steadily eroded
Once a voice of authority, the decline of trust in the press has mirrored the rise of a more fragmented, polarized media world
August 6, 2025
The Poynter 50
As Poynter celebrates its 50th anniversary, we look back at 50 of the most significant media moments and people of the past 50 years
In 1975, when the Poynter Institute was founded, there was no internet, no social media, no cable television. Imagine all that has happened since then, all the influential people who have come along, all the pivotal moments that have taken place and, most of all, how drastically the journalism and media industry has changed.
The Poynter Institute has been there every step of the way, helping to navigate these changes, understand their impacts and guide journalism into its next chapter.
As Poynter celebrates its 50th anniversary, we look back at 50 of the most significant media moments and people of the past 50 years, while also detailing how they have impacted our future. We would love your feedback. Please send us your reactions and offer your suggestions.
No story is too big or too small, too mainstream or too niche. From the rise of cable news to the release of the iconic “All the President’s Men”; from tweeting to blogging; from O.J. to Murdoch, this project contemplates how we got here and where we’re headed.
This is The Poynter 50 — a reflection on the moments and people who defined the past and continue to shape the future of journalism.
Did Craigslist decimate newspapers? Legend meets reality.
Craig Newmark’s simple site was hailed as a disruptor and blamed for the collapse of classifieds. But journalism’s business failures ran deeper.
July 31, 2025
When Jon Stewart took over ‘The Daily Show,’ satire became a trusted news source
Fed up with ‘partisan hackery,’ Stewart trumped traditional media for some fans — even with a show that followed ‘puppets making crank phone calls’
June 30, 2025
Serial’s runaway success launched podcasts into the mainstream
The true crime podcast rewrote the playbook on what successful audio storytelling sounded like and who could produce it
May 13, 2025
Barbara Walters didn’t just break barriers. She rewrote the rules. Then she did it again.
She smashed glass ceilings to anchor the news, perfected the iconic interview and built a show that redefined daytime TV.
April 28, 2025
The repeal of the fairness doctrine accelerated the polarization of US media
When broadcasters no longer had to present diverse viewpoints, conservative radio thrived
April 22, 2025
When Mexico’s richest man threw The New York Times a lifeline
Before the bundles, the podcasts and the 10 million digital subscribers, there was a $250 million loan with a sky-high interest rate
April 17, 2025
Matt Drudge broke the Lewinsky story — and the media gatekeepers
The Drudge Report’s Lewinsky scoop shattered newsroom standards and helped usher in an era of viral, ‘it’s out there’ reporting
April 15, 2025
The Mercury News put all its news on the web for free 30 years ago. Did it open Pandora’s box?
How Mercury Center went from bold experiment to parable with no conclusion
April 3, 2025
ProPublica didn’t just prove nonprofit journalism could work — it changed how investigative reporting is measured
Launched in 2008, ProPublica pioneered a sustainable nonprofit newsroom model, proving that impact — not clicks — could drive funding for journalism
March 24, 2025
The moment Darnella Frazier hit record, she proved anyone can hold power to account
Her 9-minute video of George Floyd’s murder became undeniable proof, fueling a global movement and reinforcing the power of citizen journalism
March 17, 2025
TMZ’s scoop on Michael Jackson’s death marked the moment digital news overtook legacy media
It shattered expectations for who breaks the news, proving that speed and aggressive digital reporting could outrun even the most established outlets
March 12, 2025
The night the skies over Baghdad were illuminated, the 24-hour news cycle took over
CNN’s live coverage of Operation Desert Storm launched a new era in television news
March 3, 2025
In the news
Opinion | What do ‘Serial’ and Barbara Walters have in common? What we’ve learned so far from The Poynter 50
A look at the first 10 stories in our series spotlighting journalism’s most defining moments and people
May 19, 2025
50 stories that changed journalism: Poynter’s big anniversary project
In the latest episode of ‘The Poynter Report Podcast,’ Poynter staffers explain how the Poynter 50 will highlight journalism’s defining moments
March 12, 2025
Opinion | Introducing The Poynter 50, a yearlong look at consequential people and events that shaped 50 years of media
Some moments changed everything. Others flew under the radar. But all 50 shaped the journalism we know today — and where it’s headed.
March 3, 2025
Opinion | Celebrating Poynter’s 50th anniversary … with your help
We are drafting a list of the 50 most significant media moments and people of the past 50 years. We need your input.
November 13, 2024