Paul harvey, who died recently at age 90, was to radio what Norman Rockwell was to visual arts. Both were long unappre-rnciated masters ot their media.rnFor years Rockwell was disdained by sophisticates. Now, however, more art critics are beginning to acknowledge, albeit grudgingly, that Rockwell was no mere illustrator but one of the finest painters in American history.rnPaul Harvey was similarly dismissed by elitists as simplistic and corny. But this seeming simplicity masked the achievements of a com-rnmunications genius. No broadcaster before or since has matched Harvey's ability to make listeners feel he was actually conversing with them. He spoke to you, not at you. Yes, Harvey had a resonant voice, was known for his trademark pauses and packed a lot of information into his twice-daily "News and Comment" broadcasts. Yet his delivery was given at a relaxed pace. He knew the value of personal stories (Harvey once did a touching tribute to my fathers service in WWII),rnwhich can offer powerful moral lessons.
展开▼
