One of the Great Journalists of Our Time – NABJ Statement on Tim Russert

webadmin

June 13, 2008 National Association of Black Journalists

NABJ Mourns the Loss of NBC’s Tim Russert
‘Sunday mornings will not be the same without him’

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 13, 2008 – The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) mourns the loss of NBC journalist and “Meet the Press” moderator Timothy J. Russert.

Russert, who was NBC’s Senior Vice President and Washington bureau chief, collapsed today while recording voiceovers for this week’s “Meet the Press,” said officials at the network. He had recently returned from Italy, where his family was celebrating the college graduation of his son Luke. He was 58.

“There are few in this business who are as revered among his peers as Tim, he was truly a giant among broadcast journalists,” said NABJ President Barbara Ciara. “Sunday mornings will not be the same without him.”

Russert, who came to NBC in 1984, was considered by many the quintessential political journalist and was one of the leading figures in coverage of recent presidential elections.

“When Tim spoke, Americans listened,” said NABJ Vice President of Broadcast Kathy Times. “His insight and institutional knowledge will be greatly missed during what will be a historic presidential election.”

In 2005, Russert won an Emmy for his role in the coverage of the funeral of former President Ronald Reagan. Before that, his “Meet the Press” interviews with George W. Bush and Al Gore in 2000 won the Radio and Television Correspondents’ highest honor, the Joan S. Barone Award, and the Annenberg Center’s Walter Cronkite Award. Just this year, Time Magazine named Russert one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

“He was a smart, passionate and tenacious interviewer,” said NABJ Vice President of Print Ernie Suggs. “He often raised the level of political dialogue, while remaining grounded.”

An advocacy group established in 1975 in Washington, D.C., NABJ is the largest organization of journalists of color in the nation with nearly 4,000 members and provides educational, career development and support to black journalists worldwide.