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 ...
“Let the dead bury their dead.”
I have Bobby Orr, Ray Bourque, Ronald Reagan, and Eddie Johnston photos in my office.
What about FR?
Dozens of threads here lauding a leftist news celeb. Yuk.
ah - but it wasn’t just on NBC.
Yes, the Russert death was untimely and there was no warning, and I admit to being a littled startled when turning on news and seeing his face pictured with “1950 - 2008” as the caption. (I came late to this death report as I’d been away from all forms of media while nursing a nasty migraine Friday.)
Anyhow, what followed over the entire weekend seems way over the top to me. Yes, he was well known, respected in many circles (I was not a fan) and all of that. But come on, the man has been continually deified since last Friday!
I would expect this following the death of a president, but Tim Russert? I agree with someone who said if accompanying stories report on heart disease or whatever else ailed him, then fine. But the continuous regurgitation of his media guy past became disturbing after the first 24 hours.
Thank you for mentioning Jim McKay — I was always a huge fan. Where was the 24/7 mourning and coverage of every aspect of McKay’s life? Surely he deserved as much coverage as Tim Russert.
She said he was a father to a lot of us.
I think your interpretation is just being nice.
I think it was a dumb thing to say. Perhaps she had a sentiment along the lines of your interpretation but she said what she said. Some of use, using our common sense, think it was a dopey thing to say caused by a few elites spending too much time dwelling on one topic obsessively, a sort of desperate play to get my sound byte and inspirational words of wisdom out there.
It’s like the pope comment. Brokaw might have been trying to be funny but again, it was just a dumb sentiment, again, when self-important people try a little too hard to be relevant.
I know dumb, awkward and obsessive when I hear it.
Brokaw’s comment was way over the top. I’m sure Russert would agree.
Not a nice thing to say, and I don't think Russert deserved that comment. I'm sure you wouldn't want that said about you when you die...
Excellent tagline...can I use it?
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