Posted on 06/16/2008 8:23:39 AM PDT by RDTF
Here's one thing you can say about journalists: Surely no one loves us as much as we love ourselves.
That's one lesson of the Tim Russert coverage.
A friend told me Sunday: "I now know more about Tim Russert than I do many members of my family."
After Russert's shocking death Friday at age 58, television kept serving up witnesses to his expertise, intelligence, diligence, kindness, faith, love of family, Buffalo and the Buffalo Bills. The self-indulgence was breathtaking.
On Monday's "Today," Matt Lauer interviewed Russert's son, Luke. The show basically gave over the first half-hour to the Russert story. Presidential candidates aren't questioned at such length on morning programs.
And the children of America's fallen heroes don't receive such a platform, either.
Here are a few points to consider:
Does the coverage move the story along? "ABC World News" examined heart disease, which killed Russert. Fox News Channel's Greta Van Susteren took up the same issue. But so much of the coverage was of the "I remember Tim" variety. Sad to say, a lot of it was repetitive.
Is there a sense of proportion? Peter Jennings didn't receive such heavy coverage when he died -- ABC doesn't own a cable channel. And he was in our homes, night after night, for 20 years. MSNBC kept Russert front and center through the weekend. How will NBC cover the passing of Tom Brokaw? Hasn't he been the most influential figure at NBC for the past two decades?
Do the hours of coverage inflate the story? Tim Russert was excellent at his job, make no mistake. He worked hard, he treated his guests fairly, and he asked tough questions. But by weekend's end, some commentators had elevated him to preeminent journalist of his time. -snip-
Really? Beware hyperbole.
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.orlandosentinel.com ...
With that said, there appears to be two things happening here. First, they (the people of NBC, MSNBC and the thousands of other journalists whose lives were "touched" by Mr. Russert) all want to put their signature on the "historic" moment. They want people to see them as a part of the victim's family so the public will mourn for them too.
Also, they are communicating to their peers what they want said about them when their time inevitably comes up.
Professionally, regarding Russert, I wish I could have watched him a little more than the few times I did see his show. But he came off just as politically disingenuous and motivated as the rest of them. I could never see an entire program though.
About the only thing missing in all the coverage was Sharon Stone talking about karma.
“Overdid it”?
Nah, the MSM and Hollywood never “overdo it” in their self-important, self-congratulatory and egotistical narcissistic tributes to their egos and self importance.
Remember Paul Wellstones funeral? “For Paul” over and over again.
The left is such cancer on our country and freedom. I think they’re all evil and conspiratorial. Right now, I think they’re a bigger danger than the Islalmofascists. I think they’re (to use that overused and self indulgent cliche’) “enablers” of Islamofascism and the destruction of America and liberty the world over.
Scuse my paranoia.
In fairness, when Brokaw said this, the rest of the panel laughed. I don't believe this specific comment was one of a serious nature.
I think you’ve given a great analysis of exactly what the media is about with the weirdness. You’re right, they’re saying what they want said about them at their untimely passing (which would be, for their wisdom, death at ANY age).
I’m embarrassed for them so naked is their ploy.
If anyone caught the 3rd quarter of the NBA Finals Game 5, one of the commentators (it wasn’t Van Gundy or Mark Jackson) who went on this 10 minute sermon about Russert.
I understand he passed away but this is NO place to talk about death! Watching sports is an escape for the rest of us AND not the medium to express your mindless worship of TR.
People will read this and maybe nod their heads, but they won't internalize it. Fact is, television is making people crazy - and therefore our society crazy.
I was sure thinking that all weekend. He was a great guy etc but they all said the same thing over and over for days-it was painful and now his kid was on Today show I read-seems soon for having lost his dad just 3 days prior! Little soon to hit the cameras! Everything is cameras thesedays-catastrophic events-murders-deaths-nothing is a private matter any more. Sad really. I hear the funeral will be HUGE at the Kennedy Center? So now another week of of it!
I watched Tim's son on Today this morning. Please tell me how a young man can grow up with TWO writers in the house and, even after earning a college degree, not know better grammar. He used "for I" several times. Shocking!
.
Who gives a crap.......he’s dead.
Bury him and move on to the next “celebrity” death.
Friday evening’s “Nightly News” with Brian Williams did the entire show with reporters talking about their favorite reporter. I thought they were going to get the hook to get Sally Quinn off the air...
Nevermind, even that analogy doesn't work: In writing the essay, the kids would learn something about format, etc.
Ok...equate this to having the passing of the garbage man turn into a study of him and his garbage. ;-) (The garbage man TAKES garbage away, and the "news"man DELIVERS the garbage.)
I guess that an appropriate analogy on this will be tough to come up with. No one thinks like the deliverers of "news."
When one of their own dies during a slow news week the media tends to get a little creepy. Re3member when Roone Arledge died ABC couldn’t start a show for a week without mentioning him... of course half their shows got started by him so it kind of made sense.
hahaha. Now that's funny. I don't care who you are.
Let them go overboard on the coverage.
I only noticed MSNBC devoting their schedule around Russert’s death, which I have no problem with since he worked for NBC. I enjoyed watching some of the old episodes of “Meet the Press” - especially last week’s show. Lauer’s interview with Luke this morning broke my heart - what a great kid.
Yes, it certainly was. And he is a college graduate as well. .
I was impressed how Russert tore Dean apart in 2004 only to be disgusted how kissy face he was with Kerry like the week later.
Honestly, if he was such a “great” person and there have been many great people in this world, what was he doing being a media whore? I think Dick Winters was a great guy, but Russert was just a clean log in a sea of poop so it made him look great.
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