The shocking loss of NBC's Tim Russert is another blow to the traditional values of journalism that seem to be more and more scarce.
NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik likened Russert's table at the popular Sunday morning news program to the smoke-filled rooms of previous generations where serious political issues were debated. "If you were not ready for prime time, Tim Russert's questioning would expose that," he says.Russert did not betray his personal beliefs on the air, but he held powerful figures accountable — senators, presidents, prime ministers alike....
When Russert first joined NBC, he did so as a senior executive. But when he became a journalist, "he applied a lawyer's ability for inquisition to find the truth," says Folkenflik. Russert often cited the advice given him by Lawrence Spivak, one of his predecessors on Meet the Press: Be aggressive, persistent and civil.
This will be an interesting test of the leadership at NBC News. Will they fumble it like they have with the partisanship of MSNBC?
Posted by Alan at June 14, 2008 07:09 PM