Ed Bliss, 90; CBS Writer, Editor for 25 Years

Ed Bliss, a former CBS writer and editor who worked with such luminaries as Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite and later founded the broadcast journalism program at American University, has died. He was 90.

Bliss died Monday of a respiratory disorder at a hospital in Alexandria, Va.

During his 25 years at CBS radio and television, Bliss wrote and edited the news summary for Murrow’s 15-minute broadcasts, worked with Fred Friendly on “CBS Reports” and served as CBS News President Dick Salant’s executive assistant.

In 1963, he became Cronkite’s news editor when “CBS Evening News” became the first 30-minute newscast. He was the person sitting behind Cronkite during his announcement of the assassination of President Kennedy.

The son of missionaries, Bliss was born in China. He started his journalism career in the 1930s in Ohio working for newspapers in Bucyrus and Columbus.

He was hired as a writer for CBS Radio News in 1943.

In 1968, Bliss started the broadcast journalism program at American University’s School of Communication. He retired in 1977, and the same year was named professor of the year by the Society of Professional Journalists.

Bliss wrote “Writing News for Broadcast,” a widely used journalism textbook first published in 1971. He also wrote “Now the News: The Story of Broadcast Journalism,” published in 1991.

His book about his wife’s struggle with Alzheimer’s disease, “For the Love of Lois,” is scheduled to be published next year.

He is survived by a daughter.