The longtime host of NBC's Meet the Press died suddenly at work this afternoon. He was 58.
I've always held major disdain for the kind of wall-to-wall, to-the-exclusion-of-all-else coverage that American news outlets throw at political campaigns. Yet I always happily made an exception in the case of Mr. Russert, because he was clearly a man who loved his craft and understood how it touched the lives of the ordinary folks who sat on the other end of his camera or his pen. He was also a man who revered his family, who understood how it shaped him and the community around him.
The world needs journalists with conscience now more than ever. Which makes it all the more difficult to understand why this particular one was taken from us so early.
May his memory always be a blessing. May those who've watched and learned from him over the course of his career have the opportunity to continue his unique legacy.
Great little write up. Pretty much nailed my opinion of him to a tee. He will be missed.
ReplyDeleteWell said. I felt the same too.
ReplyDeleteLosing Tim Russert is an enormous loss to credible news journalism. At this critical time in our (U.S.) political climate it is hard to imagine anyone getting to the core issues as well as Tim did, his own opinions completely aside.
ReplyDeleteI will miss him. Thoughtful words Carmi.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I've lost a friend. My heart goes out to his father and his son, and especially to his wife.
ReplyDeleteHe will be hard to replace.
58... He was only 58... Unreal
ReplyDeleteWell put Carmi.
ReplyDeleteVery nice post. A cherished man who will be missed by many :o(
ReplyDeleteHe was my favorite too. A real meat and potatoes kind of journalist that I always paid attention to. What a shock.
ReplyDeleteTim Russert was my hero.
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