There has been some criticism of the media coverage of Tim Russert's death. Dori Monson was in high dudgeon about the topic today on his KIRO radio show.
A thought: the wall-to-wall coverage is certainly excessive and lamentable. Solution: don't watch as much cable television.
Journalists always over-emphasize the death of their own. Given the degree to which political news has come to dominate cable broadcasts as of late - especially on MSNBC - excessive coverage of Russert's passing should be of little surprise.
Regardless of that fact, Russert as a figure on the American political media scene - and his uniqueness in it - are worthy of remembrance. Furthermore, his grounded personality, abiding faith, and profound love of America and its people are traits too rarely celebrated in our national political discourse. We should thus welcome it as much as possible.
Younger folk like me don't recall an era of political news in which Tim Russert was not one of the all-stars of the profession. Filling his shoes seems like an impossible task.
I join Allahpundit in concurring with Jonah Goldberg: the best solution may be a return to the panel format with a respectable, highly knowledgeable, but not superstar presence like Chuck Todd.
Fellow NBC personalities Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann (dude!) would be utterly antithetical to Russert's image and the Meet the Press brand name. Andrea Mitchell and David Gregory would be worth only passing use as interim hosts.
Absent Goldberg's suggestion, digging outside the NBC universe would be prudent. Accordingly, I have yet to see CNN's John King bandied about, but he is one of the few individuals out there who seems capable of even attempting to pick up where Russert left off. He's credible, largely fair, holds respected experience in print and broadcast journalism, and has done scads of TV - including guest hosting multiple shows - during this election season.
Despite the stereotype, this conservative blogger tends to watch CNN on election nights. It probably has something to do with wanting to heave myself out a window whenever I hear Bill Kristol's scratchy voice or see Shepherd Smith on camera. And MSNBC is, well, MSNBC. Thus, King's reporting, analysis, and thinking have grown on me quite a bit this campaign season. NBC wooing him from a competitor is a whole different set of issues.
Regardless, this all speaks to the massive void left in modern political coverage by Russert's departure. The outpouring of his colleagues and competitors speaks compellingly to that. Moreover, Russert obviously did much to cultivate many current reporters, to which Norah O'Donnell's moving tribute gives testimony. Yet, it is fifteen minutes of this morning's Today show broadcast that showcased Russert's greatest legacy on this earth, and one to which every man can aspire; the awesome pride of a wonderful child raised to adulthood.
If anything is worth celebrating and holding up for emulation in a man's passing, it is that.
Posted by Eric Earling at June 16, 2008 08:35 PM | Email ThisRest in Peace Tim, there are a great deal of people in this country who will miss you, and I watched your brave son step up in the middle of his own sorrow. He is a bright and brave young man. Your Wife and father are also individuals I will always remember for their kindness, belief in their family, this country, and their own talents.
Luke will fill the seat of his father, and I believe very very soon.
There is no other choice.
Reporters like Tim Russert have sadly become an increasingly rare breed, God rest his soul.
Posted by: KS on June 16, 2008 09:21 PMI think Tim did a good job and he was respected for staying on point, but I object to those who treat him as though he were some news 'super star'. He certainly was not anywhere near the caliber of men like Edward R. Murrow, David Brinkley or for that matter the best Meet the Press host of all time and the man who established to program as important journalism: Lawrence Spivak. It was Spivak who invented the form that Tim followed of asking the hard questions that no one else would. And for those of you who wonder about that statement, much has changed over the past 50 years in television and radio news. On many occasions I thought Russert had copied Spivak to a tee!
However, I think the real problem here is the fact that mature, adult journalists are leaving the scene at NBC and it seems clear that the cheap, immature media news readers such as Chris Matthews and that insult ones intelligence type Keith Olbermann just do not measure up. Neither one of these gentlemen could stand in Tims shadow and I hear that he made it clear to both of them that that was the case.
I think the real reason for all of the emotional expressions about the loss of Tim Russert is the realization that Tom Brokaw is a step away from retirement and looking the field of replacements over at NBC is a terrible thing to behold. Maybe NBC can hire Katy Couric when she gets fired over at CBS?
I wish that was the case, but the truly rare breed are the Brit Humes of TV News, or editors like those at the Washington Times or the Editorial Page of the Wall Street Journal. Russert was certainly more professional than most of his colleagues at NBC and the other networks, but as one of many former Democrat operatives now in the news business, he certainly earned the respect of viewers for working to be as fair as he could. But this conservative still couldn't stomach what many will certainly disagree was a subtle double-standard when going after a Republican versus a Democrat. No one can shed all their biases, and in my opinion, Russert was no exception.
NBC and TV news will certainly miss him, and if anyone can be called a rare breed within the liberal media machine, who wasn't thrown out on his butt for not towing the liberal line, Russert would be that guy for trying his best to be balanced. Russert came as close as anyone I've seen in the MSM who wasn't driven out, or forced to go along with the liberal slant to keep their job.
As for the replacement of Russert, NBC has an opportunity to do the next best thing with the loss of the one person, in a sea absent a known news personality considered anywhere close to as professional, and that would be to adopt a co-anchor format with respected TV newsmen or women from both sides of the political spectrum. The real challenge would be to find someone not embraced by the left who would take the job.
In fact, if NBC was to make such an offer to the right side of their potential audience, they'd probably see their ratings explode; well beyond any level imagined from Meet the Press with Tim Russert. But that would mean risking control of what is discussed, and I've not seen any evidence to suggest that the liberal network news is prepared to allow that to happen.
Posted by: Reality on June 16, 2008 10:42 PMBlessings of Life
� Over the years, Tim Russert gained the respect of his friends, colleagues and the listening
public, something vastly more important to him than the fame and wealth he also enjoyed.
� He wrote the inspiring story of his father, Big Russ.
� He saw his beloved son graduate from Boston College.
� The last days of his life were spent with his wife and son in Italy on vacation.
Blessings of Death
� He died at his desk doing the job he loved.
� His death was quick. He did not linger in pain or suffer the indignity and frustration of lost
abilities.
� He went out on top, at the pinnacle of a remarkable career.
� A devout Roman Catholic Christian, he knew his Savior. Surely, Jesus prepared a place for
Tim Russert.