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==Criticisms of media coverage==
==Criticisms of media coverage==
[[Jack Shafer]] of ''[[Slate]]'' criticized the voluminous amount of media coverage given Russert's death, calling NBC's coverage a "never-ending video wake." While Shafer gave some excuse to [[NBC]] for the amount, he did not excuse other outlets. He stated, "I wonder whether the media grievers gave a moment of thought to how this Russert torrent they produced played with viewers and readers. Did the grievers really think Russert was so important...that he deserved hour upon hour of tribute?"<ref name="slate"/> [[Washington Post]] writer Paul Farhi expressed concern about the amount of coverage noting that a print journalist would like not receive similar attention. <ref name="Farhi"/> ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' columnist [[Julia Keller]] questioned not only the volume of coverage but questioned the labeling of Russert's death as a "a national tragedy". <ref name=trib/> Several left political organs delivered scathing characterizations of Russert as a mouthpiece for reaction and war and the media overreaction as part of the same spectacle.<ref>'A Discordant Note on Tim Russert", Matthew Rothsschild [[The Progressive]] [http://www.progressive.org/mag_wx0601408]</ref><ref>"How the Russert Test Failed America" Linda Hirshman, [[The Nation]] [http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080707/hirshman] </ref> <ref>Tim Russert honored: A “state funeral” for services rendered. Alex Lantier and David Walsh. [[http://wsws.org/articles/2008/jun2008/russ-j21.shtml]</ref><ref>Tim Russert and the decay of the American media. David North and David Walsh [http://wsws.org/articles/2008/jun2008/russ-j16.shtml]</ref>
[[Jack Shafer]] of ''[[Slate]]'' criticized the voluminous amount of media coverage given Russert's death, calling NBC's coverage a "never-ending video wake." While Shafer gave some excuse to [[NBC]] for the amount, he did not excuse other outlets. He stated, "I wonder whether the media grievers gave a moment of thought to how this Russert torrent they produced played with viewers and readers. Did the grievers really think Russert was so important...that he deserved hour upon hour of tribute?"<ref name="slate"/> [[Washington Post]] writer Paul Farhi expressed concern about the amount of coverage noting that a print journalist would like not receive similar attention. <ref name="Farhi"/> ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' columnist Julia Keller questioned not only the volume of coverage but questioned the labeling of Russert's death as a "a national tragedy". <ref name=trib/> Several left political organs delivered scathing characterizations of Russert as a mouthpiece for reaction and war and the media overreaction as part of the same spectacle.<ref>'A Discordant Note on Tim Russert", Matthew Rothsschild [[The Progressive]] [http://www.progressive.org/mag_wx0601408]</ref><ref>"How the Russert Test Failed America" Linda Hirshman, [[The Nation]] [http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080707/hirshman] </ref> <ref>Tim Russert honored: A “state funeral” for services rendered. Alex Lantier and David Walsh. [[http://wsws.org/articles/2008/jun2008/russ-j21.shtml]</ref><ref>Tim Russert and the decay of the American media. David North and David Walsh [http://wsws.org/articles/2008/jun2008/russ-j16.shtml]</ref>


==See Also==
==See Also==

Revision as of 00:49, 22 June 2008


Reaction to Tim Russert's death came from across the political spectrum, electronic and print media, pop culture, and the sports world as well. Cable news stations devoted many hours to such tributes over the course of the week following his death as well. Critics questioned the volume of media coverage and in particular the labeling of it as a "national tragedy" by some.[1][2][3]

From politics and journalism

File:Carville and Matlin cry for Russert during tapeing on Meet the Press.jpg
Photo: Wong / Meet the Press
Democratic strategist James Carville and wife, Republican strategist Mary Matalin, regular Meet the Press guests, burst into tears during taping of the Tim Russert tribute show on 15 June 2008.

On the evening of his death, the entire, nearly commercial-free half hour of NBC Nightly News was dedicated to Russert's memory, featuring previous news segments with Russert and interviews with some of Russert's colleagues. The broadcast also included tributes to Russert by presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama, as well as Keith Olbermann, Ethel Kennedy, Bob Schieffer, Tom Brokaw, Bob Woodward and others. Dateline NBC also served as a memorial for Russert, by highlighting the heights of both his early life and political and journalistic career in television. No other news was covered in the broadcast. Other major public and cable news agencies, including CBS, ABC, CNN and Fox News also devoted large segments of their programming on June 13 to Russert's life and memory. Even the BBC covered his death. MSNBC, the cable network operated by NBC at which he had spent much time working, devoted several continuous hours of commercial-free interviews with Russert's colleagues, during which host Keith Olbermann and other NBC commentators teared up several times. Their weekend coverage was also devoted exclusively to interviews and analysis about Russert and his impact. On Sunday, June 15, the first Meet the Press airing after Russert's death was devoted entirely to a remembrance of Russert. With the moderator's chair empty, Tom Brokaw led a discussion among Russert's colleagues, including James Carville, Mary Matalin, Gwen Ifill, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Mike Barnicle, and Maria Shriver. Clips from Russert's years as host of Meet the Press were included throughout the broadcast.[4]

File:WashingtonExaminer061308.jpg
Russert's death was front page news across the United States

Journalists from multiple news organizations praised Russert's commitment to the highest standards of well-researched journalism and fair play. These journalists included CBS News anchor emeritus Walter Cronkite[5], Washington Post journalist Carl Bernstein[5], Washington Post columnist Sally Quinn (on NBC Nightly News)[6], and Gwen Ifill, who reported Russert's death and acknowledged Russert's impact on the world of television journalism on her PBS show Washington Week broadcast of June 13, 2008.[7]

Politicians who had faced him in presidential debates and on Meet the Press also commented on his death. President George W. Bush praised him as "a tough and hardworking newsman. He was always well-informed and thorough in his interviews. And he was as gregarious off the set as he was prepared on it."[8]

Former President Bill Clinton and Senator Hillary Clinton released a joint statement saying: "Tim had a love of public service and a dedication to journalism that rightfully earned him the respect and admiration of not only his colleagues but also those of us who had the privilege to go toe to toe with him."[9]

Republican presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain said: "Tim Russert was at the top of his profession. He was a man of honesty and integrity. He was hard, but he was always fair."[10]

Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama said: "I've known Tim Russert since I first spoke to the convention in 2004. He was somebody who over time I came to consider not only a journalist but a friend. There wasn't a better interviewer in television nor a more thoughtful analyst of our politics, and he was also one of the finest men I knew."[10]

Entertainers

Many entertainers also made mention of Russert's death. Radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh posted a statement on his website[11], and comedian Jon Stewart, host of The Daily Show, dedicated the "Moment of Zen" to Russert's memory.[12] Former Daily Show correspondent Stephen Colbert, host of The Colbert Report, also made a similar tribute to Russert.[13] Both Conan O'Brien, of Late Night with Conan O'Brien[14] and Jay Leno offered tributes to Russert as part of their normally humorous schtick. Leno broke style with a serious tribute to Russert in the last section of his monologue. Another friend of Russert's, Bruce Springsteen offered an on-stage tribute to Russert while performing in Cardiff, Wales on Saturday 14 June. Springsteen dedicated the performance of "Thunder Road" to Russert's memory to resounding applause from the audience. [15][16]

Health professionals

Physicians and other health professionals reacted to news of Russert's death.[17] Generally, these hightlight how although Russert had advanced cardiovascular disease and fit the profile for at risk for a possibly fatal event 1), the results of testing were not deemed to warrant the invasive tests that would have shown the true state of affairs and 2) although he was taking measures to deal with conditions as advised, they were inadequate to the true underlying threat/condition.[18][19][20]

Memorial services

Also on June 15, a candlelight vigil was held in Tim Russert Park in his hometown of Buffalo. WGRZ-TV reported that over 1,000 people attended. A number of local politicians offered praise and fond memories of Russert, led by Mayor Byron W. Brown, who talked about Russert’s “continuing love affair with the City of Buffalo,” proclaiming Sunday “Tim Russert Day.” [21][21]

On 18 June, Russert's memorial service was held in the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Among the many who eulogized Russert amidst both tears and laughter, Bruce Springsteen performed his song "Thunder Road". MSNBC's Chris Matthews noted that he sat and watched the normally heated presidential contenders Barack Obama and John McCain, in attendance, chatting in a friendly tone, with heads nodding affirmatively, and interpreted that this was iconic of Russert's journalistic even-handedness (both had been separately and conjointly interviewed by Russert shortly before his death). Matthews continued by saying that Russert's devoted Jesuit Catholicism was not in any way a "crutch" to a limping life but a centrally empowering component that both formed and filled it. Keith Olbermann on MSNBC noted that just before memorial attendees were dismissed, organizers played "Somewhere Over The Rainbow", sung and strummed on a ukulele by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, which had been found on Russert's iPod. Displaying a photo, Olbermann said that attendees were stunned at the sight of what seemed like "a miracle" as they filed out the building toward Nebraska Avenue. A double-rainbow, an actual one, had arched prominently in the sky.

Criticisms of media coverage

Jack Shafer of Slate criticized the voluminous amount of media coverage given Russert's death, calling NBC's coverage a "never-ending video wake." While Shafer gave some excuse to NBC for the amount, he did not excuse other outlets. He stated, "I wonder whether the media grievers gave a moment of thought to how this Russert torrent they produced played with viewers and readers. Did the grievers really think Russert was so important...that he deserved hour upon hour of tribute?"[1] Washington Post writer Paul Farhi expressed concern about the amount of coverage noting that a print journalist would like not receive similar attention. [3] Chicago Tribune columnist Julia Keller questioned not only the volume of coverage but questioned the labeling of Russert's death as a "a national tragedy". [2] Several left political organs delivered scathing characterizations of Russert as a mouthpiece for reaction and war and the media overreaction as part of the same spectacle.[22][23] [24][25]

See Also

References

  1. ^ a b Shafer, Jack (June 16, 2008). "The Canonization of Saint Russert, The media overdo the death of a journalist". Slate.com. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
  2. ^ a b Keller, Julia (June 20, 2008). "The tempest over Tim: Did the media overplay Russert's death?". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
  3. ^ a b Farhi, Paul (June 17, 2008). "Station Break". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
  4. ^ CNN (2008-06-15). "NBC remembers Russert on first 'Meet the Press' since his death". CNN.com. Retrieved 2008-06-15. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  5. ^ a b "Reactions to Tim Russert's death". msnbc. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
  6. ^ Quinn, Sally (June 13, 2008). "'Meet the Press' Host Tim Russert Dies at 58". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-06-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "Washington Week in Review podcast". WETA-TV. Retrieved 2008-06-14.
  8. ^ Espo, David and Laurie Kellman (June 13, 2008). "NBC's Tim Russert dies at 58 of heart attack". Associated Press. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ "Tim Russert, 'Meet the Press' Host, Is Dead at 58". The New York Times.
  10. ^ a b "Obama, McCain on Tim Russert". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
  11. ^ Rush Limbaugh's website statement on Tim Russert's death, posted 13 JUNE 2008 [1] Accessed 13 JUNE 2008
  12. ^ Moment of Zen - Tim Russert Homage | The Daily Show with Jon Stewart | Comedy Central.
  13. ^ Tim Russert Tribute | The Colbert Report | Comedy Central.
  14. ^ Conan on Tim Russert | Late Night with Conan O'Brien | NBC.
  15. ^ Bruce Springsteen Tribute, [2] Accessed 16th June 2008
  16. ^ msnbc.msn.com
  17. ^ http://www.theheart.org/article/876283.do
  18. ^ Could a Defibrillator Have Saved Tim Russert? NYT
  19. ^ http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/111396.php
  20. ^ http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/VenousThrombosis/tb/9828
  21. ^ a b Buffalo News (2008-06-16). "Hundreds attend candlelight vigil at Tim Russert Park". thebuffalonews.com. Retrieved 2008-06-16. Cite error: The named reference "sabres2137" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  22. ^ 'A Discordant Note on Tim Russert", Matthew Rothsschild The Progressive [3]
  23. ^ "How the Russert Test Failed America" Linda Hirshman, The Nation [4]
  24. ^ Tim Russert honored: A “state funeral” for services rendered. Alex Lantier and David Walsh. [[5]
  25. ^ Tim Russert and the decay of the American media. David North and David Walsh [6]

External links

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