Some critics suggest that the media coverage surrouding Tim Russert’s unexpected death was excessive considering he was a news reporter and not necessarily a news maker, the Washington Post reports. Early numbers, however, indicate that as many as 6 million viewers tuned in for last Sunday’s “Meet the Press’; the program averaged 3.2 million viewers.
—Sergio Ibarra
Russert Tributes Draw Backlash, Viewers
Jun 17, 2008 • Post A Comment
I’ve spent most of my Sunday’s with Tim…believed him, trusted him, thought he was one of the last best newsmen.
Too much coverage?
No way.
God Bless Tim and his much loved family.
What a shame. Instead of encouraging those who pay tribute to a decent guy who loved his family and worked hard at his job… We throw stones. Russert excelled in a profession that often ignores the feelings of individuals for the sake of a story. He wasn’t afraid to ask hard questions but he also wasn’t afraid to do it with gentleness and humility. That, unfortunately, is news in this day and age.
Too much coverage? No way. It has felt like I lost a family member all weekend. I thank NBC for sharing special moments and thoughts about this great guy. It was nice to hear confirmation that her really was one of the good guys. I felt the coverage was totally appropriate.
Not a newsmaker? Tell that to Hillary Clinton, whose campaign swerved out-of-control when Tim Russert asked her (and then pressed her, in lawyer-fashion) about her stand on drivers licenses for illegal immigrants! It was the first time Democrats got to feel nervous about her super-evasive answer. Search YouTube for “clinton russert drivers”
Anyone who claims they are “in the business” and knocks coverage of our trajic loss of Tim Russert, is merely exposing their ego’s inability to acknowledge one of the greats of our time.
When we lose someone like a Tim Russert, it is fitting and proper to revisit the many times and ways he demonstrated bringing out the Truth. He was not out to “get” someone. He asked for the Truth and would go a full three sixty until it came out.
His passion for what he did professionally was never mislead with a hidden agenda. He was man enough to acknowledge his mistakes too.
He made many strong friendships with his peers, public officials, his advocates and the viewing public.
Remembering and honoring is part of the mourning process for people we revere.
Tim Russert earned a high degree of reverence, albeit with a smile and a twinkle in the eye.
God Bless him.
Peter Bright
Certainly, Tim’s death was tragic from several angles. He died while doing his job and was considered in good health.
I don’t think that saying there was excessive coverage is throwing stones. I made that observation last week in comparing the coverage on Jim McKay’s death to Russert. I find it interesting that someone else thought it was too much. NBC was the appropriate spot for the complete coverage. Other media coverage is fine, but it seemed that most went over the top with the quantity of reporting.
Without a doubt, Jim Mckay had a closer relationship to the American public and was viewed by far more people than compared to a low rated Sunday interview show. The difference is most media people under 50 yrs of age didn’t experience McKay’s influence, and therefore made his death a postscript. They knew Russert, and to them, it was more tragic and demanded more coverage. He was one of their own, a serious journalist. But, Jim was also a reporter, just not one that they knew.
Both families and the public suffered a loss of incredible people. May God bless them all.
While Mr. Russert’s death was sad and untimely I, for one, thought the coverage was a bit too much. That is just my opinion. If the media wants to cover the senseless loss of someone who passes away before their time why don’t they focus their energies on covering the deaths of US service personnel in Iraq? Taking nothing away from Mr. Russert, mine is a commentary not about him, his life or his many contributions but about the media and its coverage of his passing and the lack of attention the media pay to the losses of the Iraq war.
Both McKay and Russert prepared far more than the vast majority of their peers. They focused on their topics and not on themselves. They shed light, not heat. They were journalists who dug deep. What followed their deaths wasn’t overexposure. It was a time to reflect on what media has become and what it can be. The biggest shame is that we don’t think about this enough. And when we do, it’s often after we’ve just lost one of the few who did things well. If we had more news people like Russert, we’d be better-informed citizens and we’d hold our leaders accountable in an informed and patriotic manner. Our country would be healthier and stronger for it.
Too much coverage? Hardly. I for one didn’t even realize the impact Tim Russert made in my life until I heard of his passing. What a huge loss for his family and for the country. He will be missed.
I was moved to hear that his loss was felt as keenly by the politicians he interviewed and his peers in the business as his family. Americans mourned the loss of a truly great man.
A man of the people and for the people. A man who never forgot his roots or what it means to be an American. We lost one of the great ones and it is comforting to know so many recognized that. In a time when flash and bluster often grab the headlines, it is encouraging to know that being a good man who loved his family and his job and did an exemplary job as a man can be so justly remembered.