Bill Downs
American journalist and WWII correspondent

Born
August 17th, 1914
111 years ago
Died
May 3rd, 1978
47 years ago — 63 years old
Category
Thinkers & Philosophers
Country
United States
Links & References
Contributed significant coverage of World War II as a war correspondent for the CBS network. Reported from various battlefronts, providing firsthand accounts of major events such as the liberation of Paris and the Normandy invasion. Played a pivotal role in the development of radio journalism during wartime, showcasing the power of live reporting. Continued to work in broadcasting post-war, influencing the field of journalism for decades.
Covered the liberation of Paris for CBS
Reported live from the Normandy invasion
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