Was The Tim Russert News Coverage Overblown?

Excerpts from Hal Boedecker:

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. ...

The news needs to be a mix of stories. People needed to be reminded about the Iowa floods -- people are suffering on a grand scale there. But, of course, those people live far from the Washington Beltway, and so they won't gain the vast air time accorded to journalists and politicians.

Will journalists ask the tough questions of themselves that they ask of others? Not during grief, evidently. Brokaw hinted that Russert had his critics. Could we have heard from them? Well, no. The coverage seemed designed to put Russert on the fast track to sainthood.

The affection that Russert stirred in millions was testament to his skill. But the coverage of his death was often overblown, self-congratulatory and self-indulgent. It was no way to treat a news icon.

116 comments so far. I think he hit a nerve. A terrific blog post with a lot of equally terrific and literate comments from his readers.

Comments

I feel better after reading this blog...I thought I was the only one who felt this way.! Yes, Tim was a good journalist...but does this man warrant six days of continual mourning. I felt also especially sad for those other journalists who were clearly enjoying the spotlight and revival of their career...ie Doris, Mike and Maria! Thanks. I was feeling very jaded...until your piece.