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How did Julius Schwartz and Carmine Infantino revise Superman in the early 1970s?

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Christopher Reeve as Superman in a blue suit with red cape and yellow belt, flying with one arm forward against a dark background in a publicity still from Superman: The Movie. — Superman Christopher Reeve in *Superman* (1978), directed by Richard Donner.

In the early 1970s, DC Comics sought to revitalize the Superman character after his popularity had waned during the late 1960s. Carmine Infantino, who had become DC’s publisher in 1971, tasked editor Julius Schwartz—known for his successful work on Batman—with overseeing a major overhaul of the Man of Steel.1

Beginning with Superman no. 233 in January 1971, the creative team implemented several significant changes to modernize the character and restore dramatic intensity to his stories:

Character Role: Clark Kent transitioned from a print journalist to a television news reporter.1
Power Levels: Superman’s godlike abilities were significantly weakened to ensure that his enemies could pose a credible threat.1
Mythos Adjustments: Kryptonite was eliminated from the narrative.1
Creative Direction: The stories were infused with a new sense of realism by writers such as Denny O’Neil, Elliot S. Maggin, and Cary Bates, while artists including Neal Adams and Curt Swan updated the character's visual presentation.1