Posted on 06/15/2008 1:07:12 PM PDT by Daniel T. Zanoza
Commentary
Editor's Note: During the next week, RFFM.org will do a series of columns on the state of journalism in America today. We will look into the failures of the dominant media and the lack of adherence to journalistic integrity on the Internet.
The profession of journalism truly lost one of its most distinguished representatives with the sudden death of Tim Russert. The host of NBC's Meet The Press had developed into one of the best interviewers in the dominant media and the profession cannot afford to lose such individuals who ply their trade with dignity and pride. However, the near canonization of Russert also pointed to one of the problems plaguing the field. NBC's sister network on cable, MSNBC, devoted practically 72 hours of continuous coverage of Russert's untimely passing. I'm sure the Buffalo, New York native would have been embarrassed by such attention and the rest of us can point to this as one of the most pressing problems facing the profession of journalism today.
Tim Russert was not a rock star. Russert was not a star of stage and screen. Russert did not break Olympic records and he wasn't a famous wide-receiver for the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears or his beloved Buffalo Bills. Russert was a journalist, nothing more and nothing less.
However, today many in the field of journalism want to be looked upon as celebrities in their own right. From individuals on the right of the political spectrum, including Rush Limbaugh (WABC Radio) and Bill O'Reilly (FNC--FOX News Channel) to those left-leaning personalities like Chris Matthews (MSNBC), Bill Moyers (PBS) and many others in the mainstream media, reporting the news is simply not enough...
(Excerpt) Read more at rffm.typepad.com ...
And perfection must be a terrible burden on you as well.
To all:
To a certain extent, I would have to agree with some points stated above regarding whether or not individuals like Rush Limbaugh are truly journalists. I would have to lean towards the criticism I received on that point; in the truest sense, Limbaugh is not a journalist, but there are individuals I mentioned in my column who do blur the line. Overall, thoughtful comments.
Dan Zanoza
RFFM.org
Apparently, you didn’t read the whole article, so I won’t waste any more time on your comment.
Dan Zanoza
RFFM.org
He didn’t lie and there is something to be said for that.
Uhm, journalists tend to, ahem, write, while the big hair monkeys you gape at on your idiot box, tend to read (off a teleprompter.) Mark Twain,Tom Wolfe, Hunter Thomnpson, William F. Buckley, were journalists, the big hairs are celebrities, known for being known, whether or not they’d admit to that. Perky Katie a journalist? Then, so is Vanna White, and we all love Vanna!
Bravo
Rush is not a journalist.
Russert also was one of the first to talk about Chinagate.
Hm, thanks for the pleasant ping.
I was talking about the comments on the thread.
Just who was he? Can we expect the same when Brit Hume dies? What kind of circus will happen when Dan Rather or Walter Cronkite dies? Flags at the capitol at half staff with caskets lying in state in the rotunda?
Tim Russert was just a liberal reporter. I just don't get it. I don't really dislike the man or anything, but this is way, way over the top.
Perfection is one disease that does not run in my family. Thank the Lord.
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