Archive: Opinions

EditorialThis was a sad week for journalism, and, indeed, for the country because Tim Russert died.  When this week's Meet The Press began with a view of his empty chair and then panned down to show Tom Brokaw and guests sitting respectfully in front of, but not on, the set -- the picture was worth at least a thousand words.  Because despite what I think of as the 'Hollywooding of the news' Russert was one of the few television journalists who brought integrity and real journalism to the job.  And his passing has left an enormous empty chair in the profession.

When I think of how much he accomplished in his 58 years and how consistently well he accomplished it I am awed.  I don't know how he did it.  He brought a strong moral foundation and work ethic to everything we saw him do.  And he was the ultimate fair and balanced journalist.  I didn't know he had strong Democrat sympathies until I read it in his book.  You wouldn't know it by watching Meet The Press or watching him report on elections.

Russert had many similarities to Tony Snow (who used to host Fox News Sunday before going to work for the Bush White House).  They both clearly loved politics and journalism, and you could tell they were having a ball.  They were both respectful of their guests, yet didn't let them get away with canned non-answers.  They loved talking to newsmakers and getting them to actually say what they were doing or planning.  While their personal styles differed, they insisted that the questions they asked be answered.

Russert first caught my attention years ago because of that interview style.  His dogged determination to get a straight answer was so different, even 17 years ago, that it raised a flag for me.  I loved the way he would pound at it until the guest would either give up the stonewalling and actually answer the question, or admit that he or she wasn't going to answer it.  As a journalist on a much smaller scale I've sometimes been faced with diversion answers, and when I've tried to get to the real answer I haven't always been successful.  Russert has been a role model for that.  It's always worth trying.

That's the thing about inspirational people.  I have heard countless people paying tribute to him this week, saying that he took the time to mentor them, and followed up to make sure they were doing well.  By example he was a mentor to all of us by example.  His integrity was so strongly ingrained that the lessons were clear.  He never beat you over the head with it -- he just was what he was.

In a time when it is almost impossible to find actual reporting and real journalism untinged by opinion and innuendo, Russert's passing may signal beginning of the death of journalism.  But as any parent knows, even when a child doesn't seem to get the lessons you are trying to teach while they are children, those lessons often form their character in later life.  One can hope that Russert's example will inform a new generation of journalists and bring credibility and integrity back to television news.

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