Chet Huntley embarked on his journalism career in radio in 1934 at KIRO AM in Seattle, before advancing to positions at KHQ in Spokane and KGW-AM in Portland from 1936 to 1937. In 1937, he transitioned to KFI in Los Angeles and subsequently worked with CBS Radio from 1939 to 1951, then joined ABC Radio until 1955. That year, he became part of the NBC Radio network, where he was often likened to the esteemed Ed Murrow.
Huntley's major breakthrough came in 1956 during the national political conventions, where NBC aimed to rival CBS's Walter Cronkite. After deliberation, Huntley was paired with David Brinkley, resulting in an iconic co-anchorship. Their dynamic, characterized by Huntley’s earnest delivery and Brinkley’s sharp humor, led to the launch of "The Huntley-Brinkley Report" in October 1956. This program quickly became a ratings phenomenon, with their memorable sign-off, “Good night, David... Good night, Chet...,” becoming a cultural touchstone. Remarkably, Huntley and Brinkley achieved celebrity status, surpassing even iconic figures like John Wayne and The Beatles in public recognition.
In April 1956, Huntley also initiated a half-hour program called "Outlook," which later evolved into "Chet Huntley Reporting" and addressed critical social issues like civil rights. Beyond broadcasting, he penned a memoir titled "The Generous Years: Remembrances of a Frontier Boyhood" in 1968 and co-founded an advertising agency. Following his retirement from NBC in July 1970, Huntley returned to Montana, where he developed Big Sky, a ski resort that opened in December 1973.
