Newscasters show us grief every day. Hurricane victims, plane crashes, war. But last Friday afternoon, they began broadcasting their own. As word spread that Meet the Press moderator Tim Russert had been stricken with a fatal heart attack, voices started cracking all over the cable-news spectrum. You could see Russert’s on-air colleagues digest the raw news of his death in real time. There was obvious shock in Tom Brokaw’s eyes when he appeared on NBC to break the story with a special bulletin at 3:30 p.m. EDT, leaving the clearly shaken Andrea Mitchell and Keith Olbermann to absorb the news on MSNBC for the rest of the day. At one point in the afternoon, Mitchell actually crumpled into sobs on live TV while recalling how Russert had nicknamed her "Mitch."
It was a sad day, to be sure, but also, frankly, a little jarring, watching all these TV personalities famous for keeping their cool through floods and terrorist attacks and other disasters so totally lose it. It went on for much of the weekend, and not just on MSNBC; CNN and Fox News also devoted huge swaths of airtime to reminiscing about Russert’s career and rerunning loops of condolence videos from presidential candidates and other public figures (both Obama and McCain expressed sorrow and claimed Russert’s friendship). The coverage made Russert seem more like a slain head of state, or a princess killed in a car accident, than the burly 58-year-old newsman who turned up every Sunday morning looking like an unmade bed to interview cabinet members and senators on TV’s longest-running public affairs program. For a guy much of the apolitical television audience has probably never heard of, it was quite a send-off. (Pictured, on Sunday’s tribute episode of Meet the Press, are pundits James Carville, Mary Matalin, Mike Barnicle, and Brokaw.)
Still, maybe it was appropriate. Inside the cathode-tube beltway —among those few million wonksters who regularly watch politicalcoverage on the cable-news networks — Russert was a giant. Since hetook over Meet the Press in 1991, enduring his inimitablegrilling style (which usually involved him digging up old quotes thatdirectly contradicted the guest’s current policy positions) has been arite of passage for every politician with an eye on the White House.His election night pronouncements have become the stuff of legend —like when he predicted that the key to the 2000 race would be "Florida,Florida, Florida" (and jotted it down on a white board just in caseanybody missed it). It’s also now clear that Russert was a charismaticcharacter off camera, as well, a mentoring figure to half the folksreading the news on cable TV these days, judging from all the impromptuon-air tributes over the weekend. Whatever his Q-rating with thenon-political public, the man was obviously genuinely loved by hispeers.
And that, to be cold-hearted and analytical about it, is what madewatching cable TV these past few days so riveting. Usually when we getbad news on TV, the newscasters are there to buffer the shock andprovide enough safe space so that we’ll keep on watching. This time,though, the bad news was about one of their own. And you could see thehurt all over the screen.
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He will be missed. I went to him for all my political news. The november election won’t be the same without Russert giving it to us.
I need my news with a little dispassionate narrative otherwise I would melt down and be unable to function given some of the things the television news sees necessary to exploit, I mean report. However, I do take my morning tv now with Robin Roberts and Good Morning America since Hurricane Katrina. She showed sincere emotion during her reports and I felt not only that I was getting the news but getting a small sense of the devastation. (And Chris Cuomo is on my short list of boyfriends.) The passing of Tim Russert is sad and seeing what he meant to his contemporaries and those he mentored was touching. I think they deserved to tell their stories and it happens that they had the platform of Sunday morning television to do it. Those who watched were looking for memories of Mr. Russert and those who felt it too much hopefully turned the channel.
Yes, politics, especially primaries and elections, will not be the same without Tim Russert. I’m sure many will always wonder….WWTD, What Would Tim Do…or say. That will be oh so true through the rest of this election cycle.
It may seem cliché to say this but, hearing all the personal stories and tributes to Tim over the last few days, make me want to be a better person and strive for better in every aspect of my life.
God bless Tim’s family and friends and also his work family and friends. The rest of us will certainly miss him in our living room TVs…they had the real guy in front of them.
Hang tough and…go get ‘em!
My heart goes out to his family, especially his son. Tim was devoted to his family, regardless the time it took him to do his job. He left behind a son who has no doubt he was loved and adored by his father. What a shock. What a wake up call. RIP.
The level of coverage was obviously in direct proportion to the level of love and respect his colleagues felt for him. Those of us from Buffalo already knew what an extraordinary person Russert was. It’s too bad much of the country only discovered what an exceptional person he was due to his shocking early death. Rest in peace, Tim.
While it was without a doubt a real tragedy for him and his family, I felt it was also a bit overblown, and showed yet again broadcast media’s endless narcissism towards itself.
About a year and a half ago, I had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Russert speak at my college. I was actually lucky enough to attend because I was one of the ushers for the night. My impression was that he seemed genuine, both in what he was saying and personality wise. My condolences go to his family, and he will be missed in the political arena.
A truly wonderful man, loving, devoted to his family, a fine catholic, another light of decency has gone out of the world, to all of his family and friends, my deepest, sorrowful sympathy, a true gentle man…..rest in the bosom of the Lord, Sir.
I COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON TIM TO ASK FOR THE HARD TRUTH. IT IS A BLESSING TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO STAND UP, FEARLESS, FOR THE TRUTH. THANKS BIG TIM.
Perhaps whoever wrote this is too immersed in pop culture to appreciate the greatness of the American we just lost. When we can absolutely trust the integrity, fearlessness and wisdom of a media person–that’s cause for lament. I honor Tim Russert
I think that even the “Show Biz” news industry realized that he was a real newsman, without faking anything. I for one, appreciated Mr. Russert’s integrity, and will miss his contributions to the news.
I have never been political savy. I always felt when Tim Russert reported it was not an attack on anyone just the facts. It really gave me an informed insight it seemed from a neighbor next door talking in my patio. I pray for his family and the NBC family.
I have never been political savy. I always felt when Tim Russert reported it was not an attack on anyone just the facts. It really gave me an informed insight it seemed from a neighbor next door talking in my patio. I pray for his family and the NBC family.
It occurred to me that Katie Courick may be just what Meet the Press needs to tone down what is the most interesting election we have had in my adult years. I am 71.
The writer of the above article about Tim Russert’s passing is not of the same professional level quality of journalism that Tim Russert was. To say that Tim looked sloppy and that his style of interviewing was mainly quotes from other people was written in extremely bad taste was extremely disrespectful considering that Tim Russert had an exemplary reputation as a journalist. The write of this article was very young and inexperienced.
I expected more from such an organization as EW.
Tim Russert might very well have been the last honest newsman on TV. In an age where the line between truth and the professional lie have been severely blurred, Mr. Russert shone as a beacon of honesty, unselfishness, decency, and a serious commitment to the truth. He loved his job,he loved his country, and it positively shone out of his eyes! In our cynical, plastic, and polished age, Tim was a throwback to a time when newsmen took pride in their profession and in their mandate to tell the truth. We shall not see his like again, and he will be sorely missed. What better way to be remembered than as a true newsman, and one of a kind. We’ll miss you, Tim.
Tim Russert was the best political talk show host (Meet the Press)the world
has ever seen. He’ll be incredibly missed!
Goodbye to boring political news at it’s best.
His son needs a job and someone somewhere should do him the favour of actually hiring him and holding on to that long term first in life..
Gods Speed Tim. We will miss you, but know you are in Gods embrace.
Next Sunday, Tim interviews God and asks the really tough questions. Because it’s Tim Russert, God answers. I’ll miss you Tim. We all will.
One of the most difficult news I ever had to bear. I can’t seem to get over it and in my mind I still think that one of these days I’ll see Tim on TV. How can this be. Mrs Russert and Luke, I am terribly sorry for your loss. God really chose well when he chose our TIM RUSSERT. If I can 1/4 of the man he was, I know I’ll be ok!
I have been a Russert fan for several years and greatly enjoyed and looked forward to his political commentary. What I liked most about Tim was that he didn’t sugarcoat the issues – he questioned and voiced his opinion straight from the hip with an honesty and fairness that can’t be found just anywhere. He will sorely be missed around my home. I enjoyed NBC’s tributes and wish that I too, had known him on a personal level. He was one of a kind – and the last of his kind. I wish his family well.
My heart goes out to Mr. Russert’ family. God speed and the world will miss you, but know you are in God’s embrace.
Tom Brokaw did a respectable job on Sunday’s edition of “M.T.P.” . I saw a smidge of the show via Entertainment Tonight, but it was clear that Brokaw was just very emotional. It’s just such a tragic loss for journalism in general. Here’s a guy who facially looked as if he was about to go on television and kick someone’s a-ss but when you watched “Meet The Press”, Tim made politics come alive. He was like a magician. His love for his work, and his sense of humor made you wish that you were being interviewed on his show. When I saw that picture of Luke touching his father’s chair, I almost cried. My heart goes out to his family.
Watching the NBC staff dealing with Russert’s death reminded me of another death in the NBC family – David Bloom. To this day I can’t forget Soledad O’Brien’s face when she had to announce the news that DB died. That person is their coworker and friend. And they have to go on with their grief on display.
There are alot of newspeople on tv..and these days, we watch alot of news. But only a few of those newspeople are memorable. They feel like family. Tim Russert felt that way. I remember him writing on that white board…I think he may have done some math on there too (which was certainly helpful to me). He was approachable, smart but not condescending, and somehow stayed objective. Coverage of his death did remind me of David Bloom’s passing as well. At the time, Bloom had been reporting from the frontlines and he felt like family too. It can’t be defined how those few people really stand out- but they do. It makes sense to me that they would be mourned by their peers and by their audience. They won’t be forgotten.
Benjamin, all TV anchors are taught to be dispassionate, so when they have to report on the loss of one of their own, they ‘let their hair down’ as it were. It is nice to see the human side of these people; you just hate that it takes a tragedy to cause it. Tim Russert loved his job, and his co-workers loved him, and he was respected by his competitors. Would that we could all say the same….
I think MDL summed it up well below. I see the coverage of Russert’s passing vs. reporting events (like floods, terrorist activities) as completely separate. The latter is reporting news. The former is sharing perspective. Of course there would be more emotion involved. I for one had no problem with the amount of coverage dedicated through the weekend.
It’s nice to see that the usually robotic face of the press can have some humanity. I remember when Dan Rather broke down on David Letterman after 9-11, and I was in tears afterwards. Newscasters should be allowed to show some compassion and passion in cases like these.
I really hope some other newscasters were watching the coverage and tried to imagine how they’ll be remembered. Maybe after watching such genuine respect some people in the news will re-evaluate what they are doing.