In an age of growing Political bias in cable and network news, Tim Russert filled a void that was becoming increasingly hollow. When we wake up tomorrow, and see a future without Russert's candid pursuit of the truth, we may also see this: Be afraid, be very afraid.
When cable news grew to prominence in the 90s, Americans starving for news started turning their backs on Brokaw, Rather and Jennings. They turned in their rabbit ears and tuned in to CNN, Fox News and MSNBC. The golden age of news television has now been replaced by the likes of O'Reilly and Olbermann, duking it out each night -- a constant reminder of America's subsequent divide.
When the Clinton Campaign launched their presidential ambitions in early 2007, they embraced a black & white brave new world, warning fellow Democrats "You're either with us or against us." It's a mantra that might well be fitted for the majority of Americans in this millennium. You're either left or right. Further explaining the rise of Independents, a group that cable news finds particularly hard to define, despite what Lou Dobbs thinks. Dobbs, who champions himself as a hard-nosed Independent, often comes off as one of the most opinionated talking heads on modern television.
Meet the Press is a show like none other. It will no doubt live on with a new host and a new life. But Russert's shoes will be nearly impossible to fill. His questions were poignant and often surprising; pressing his guest to answer tough questions with answers they had not been able to prepare. No matter his guests' political affiliation, he would pose a fearless question, and then remain emotionless when his guest fumbled the answer. He had a love for political journalism and he chose to enjoy the unpredictability of the process, rather than force it into any particular direction.
He will be sorely missed. Not just by his family, friends and fans... but also in the spirit of journalistic integrity. A term becoming looser in its definition as time goes on.
