Cronkite Awards

Walter Cronkite was the CBS anchor cited as the “most trusted man in America”. He served as the honorary chairperson of the Institute for over a decade. Upon his passing, the Institute launched the Cronkite Award Ceremony to honor his wisdom and his leadership. At the annual gala events on Martha’s Vineyard, Awards were presented to honor those who were using the power of the media to create positive change in the world.

Those who ignored Earth Day, well that’s one thing. Those who ignore the crisis of our planet, that’s quite another. The indifferent have missed the point – that to clean up the air and earth and water in the few years science says we have left to us, means personal involvement and personal sacrifice. America must undertake a revolution in its way of life – to scale down its standards of living. Someday, the world will be a better place — if it listens and acts… to clean up the mess that each of us has made. What is at stake, and what is in question, is our survival.

This is Walter Cronkite.

Cronkite Awards 2014:
Dr. Sylvia Earle

The Institute’s 2024 Cronkite Ocean Awards were held in partnership with Classic Harbor Line in conjunction with Climate Week New York City to spotlight The U.N. Goal #14 • Life Below Water and U.N. Ocean Decade. Read more here

The Institute’s 2023 Cronkite Awards honored government leaders who were championing Climate Education from Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. Read more here. 

Martha's Vineyard

New York City

About Walter Cronkite’s Leadership & The Stone Soup Leadership Institute

Upon his passing in 2009, the Institute launched the Walter Cronkite Award Ceremony to honor his wisdom and his leadership. At the gala event on Martha’s Vineyard. Awards were presented by Mr. Cronkite’s family to honor those who were using the power of the media to create positive change in the world..