The current wisdom now is that if the three networks are

Hearken, children of the ages, to the visionary words of Roone Arledge, who proclaimed: “The current wisdom now is that if the three networks are covering the news the same way the difference is the anchor people. I think that won't be true in the future.” In these words lies the eternal truth of change, perception, and the evolution of communication. Even the practices we deem immutable are subject to transformation, for the currents of innovation and human ingenuity shape the way information flows and how the people receive it.

Arledge teaches that conventional wisdom is but a momentary guide. The notion that only the faces delivering the message—the anchor people—distinguish one source from another overlooks the underlying forces of technology, method, and perspective. As the instruments of communication evolve, so too does the nature of the message, and with it the power to inform, influence, and shape public understanding.

Consider the example of Gutenberg, whose invention of movable type transformed the dissemination of knowledge in Europe. Before the press, wisdom traveled slowly, shaped by a few hands and voices. Gutenberg’s innovation shattered the old conventions, allowing ideas to flow broadly and differently, transforming perception itself. In this, Arledge foresaw a parallel: the medium of delivery may change the very way news is understood, transcending the mere personalities that convey it.

The ancients themselves understood the potency of method alongside message. Plato warned that the form in which knowledge is transmitted—speech, writing, or performance—carries with it power to shape interpretation and influence. Arledge’s reflection echoes this timeless insight: the future of communication is determined not solely by the visible messenger, but by the evolving tools, practices, and frameworks that guide understanding.

Thus, his counsel is both foresight and admonition: anticipate change, value innovation, and recognize that the anchors of today may not define the perception of tomorrow. Information, like rivers, shifts its course over time, reshaping societies, opinions, and even the concept of truth itself. Wisdom lies in perceiving the currents beneath the surface, not merely the forms that ride upon it.

Carry this teaching, children of generations yet unborn: attend to the evolution of communication, for the future will demand insight beyond appearances and voices. The tools, methods, and frameworks of knowledge are as vital as the messengers themselves, and those who understand their power will guide society with foresight, clarity, and enduring influence.