“Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man” (Prov. 3:3, 4, NKJV).*
he sudden death of Timothy John Russert, Jr., in June touched professionals in every corner of the journalism community throughout North America and around the globe.
Russert, 58, was Washington bureau chief and a senior vice president for NBC News. He died from a sudden heart attack on Friday, June 13. Hosting the Sunday news show Meet the Press for nearly 17 years, Russert was the longest-running anchor on television’s longest running news show.
The gravity of NBC’s loss was seen in the fact that the network aired memorial segments for 10 days after his death and the flag at the Washington bureau was flown at half-mast for a week. The U.S. Congress also recognized Russert’s death with a resolution in his honor.
Revered as a role model for journalists everywhere—from major TV and cable networks, newspapers, and magazines, to online bloggers and neighborhood tabloids—he approached work with unwavering passion, a passion that projected through the TV screen and into 6 million homes.
Known for his meticulous preparation and his aggressive interview methods, Russert had the ability to peel away political spin to uncover the core truth of an issue. He could break down highly complex policies and legislation and explain the essence in everyday language. His was a rare voice of clarity in an arena often marked by rumors, rants, and punditry.
“He was the standard-bearer for serious journalism,” said Illinois senator Barack Obama in reaction to Russert’s death.
Speaking at a memorial service, former NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw said, “His role was to be the citizen journalist, to speak for those with no voice.”
Russert’s connection to the everyday public was underscored by the enormous public outreach to Russert’s family. Thousands of people offered condolences to the family and NBC via e-mail, and hundreds of people, including U.S. President George W. Bush, took the time to pay their respects to Russert’s family at a public wake.
Like many journalists, I’ve learned a lot from Russert. He had an unparalleled passion for providing accurate news. However, there’s much more we can learn from Russert’s life. Consider the following:
Commitment to his church. In a time of evolving spiritual trends, it’s encouraging to see a person in the public eye that holds to the faith of their youth, never faltering or wavering. And through his support of various charities Russert sought to improve the quality of spiritual life in his community.
Commitment to the little guy. Despite his popularity, Russert, the son of an Irish-American garbage collector, always remembered his hometown of Buffalo, New York. He often traveled back to champion many local community causes throughout the year. Even on the national stage, he became Buffalo’s biggest cheerleader, often closing his broadcasts with an encouraging cheer to hometown sports teams.
To honor Russert, the city of Buffalo renamed a highway after their favorite son.
Commitment to family. Despite his hectic schedule, Russert was always able to make time for his family. He never missed a significant activity of his son, Luke, from grade school through college. Russert often communicated with his son several times a day. Seldom would a day go by without Russert telling his son, “I love you.”
Tough but polite. The work of a journalist can sometimes be confrontational. Interviewees can sometimes be combative. They are often skilled in responding to questions without answering them. It takes persistence to get answers, and Russert was one of the best at getting answers. But even in the most heated discussions, Russert was always polite and respectful of his guest.
There’s a lot more to learn from Russert’s life, but the most important things are not his Nielsen ratings, his Emmy award, his best-selling books, or even his interviews with powerful world leaders.
The real key to Russert’s success was that he sought out truth and showed mercy. Every Adventist—journalist or not—can learn from him.
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*Texts credited to NKJV are from the New King James Version. Copyright ” 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.____________________
Carlos Medley is online editor for the Adventist Review.