| Genre | Scientific, philosophical investigation |
|---|---|
| Running time | 5-30 minutes |
| Country of origin | United States Luxembourg Canada |
| Language(s) | English |
| Home station | CBS Radio Network (1951–1955) Radio Luxembourg (1956–1958) NPR (2005–2009) CBC Radio One (2007) |
| Syndicates | PRI (2009–present) |
| Hosted by | Edward R. Murrow Dan Gediman Jay Allison Preston Manning |
| Created by | Edward R. Murrow |
| Directed by | Edward P. Morgan |
| Original release | 1951 – 2009 |
| Audio format | Stereophonic |
| Website | www |
This I Believe was originally a five-minute program, hosted by journalist Edward R. Murrow from 1951 to 1955 on CBS Radio Network. The show encouraged both famous and everyday people to write short essays about their own personal motivation in life and then read them on the air. This I Believe became a cultural phenomenon that stressed individual belief rather than religious dogma. Its popularity both developed and waned within the era of U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy and the Cold War.
Since then, a variety of revivals have been hosted on different networks. A half-hour European version of This I Believe ran from 1956 to 1958 over Radio Luxembourg. It has since been revived numerous times in recent years, first by Dan Gediman and Jay Allison on NPR from 2005 to 2009, and subsequently by Preston Manning on Canada's CBC Radio One in 2007. Essays that appear on the show are available free of charge at its website.
Since 2009, the original This I Believe programs have been syndicated as part of PRI's Bob Edwards Weekend.