Edward R. Murrow is remembered as the founder of modern broadcast journalism, but what about the men he hired? "The Murrow Boys" are a story all to themselves. Censorship also has a place on this afternoon's program. The US may be the least censored country in the world, and makes the most noise about it. And finally a few words about "downsizing." Does it save companies? or destroy them. It's all in this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge.

SEGMENT 1

Stanley Cloud & Lynne Olson talk with Steve Paulson about the crack team of reporters who, with Edward R. Murrow, set the standard for broadcast journalism. Cloud and Olson are the authors of "The Murrow Boys: Pioneers on the Front Lines of Broadcast Journalism."

SEGMENT 2:

Ursula Owen, editor of the British periodical Index on Censorship, tells Judith Strasser that the United States is the least censored society in the world. Considering the dangers of hate speech, she wonders if American free speech is a little too free.

SEGMENT 3:

Is downsizing the quickest way to regain your company's competitive edge? Not according to Alan Downs . The management consultant who used to orchestrate layoffs tells Jim Fleming that downsizing doesn't make companies more productive, or even leaner. Downs is the author of "Corporate Executions."

Distribution dates:

• week of 02/00/97 - hour 1