If there was one topic that focused media attention this weekend, it was the death of one of the industry's own: Tim Russert. Russert's passing provoked praise and grief and mourning across all the media and a good amount of talk about journalism and its practitioners. It's no surprise. Over decades at NBC Russert, host of the flagship Sunday program Meet the Press had become a massively influential media presence.

For me one moment stood out. It was Friday, soon after the news of Russert's death broke. NBC anchor Brian Williams was interviewed on camera from Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan. Calling Russert's death "an unfathomable loss", he appeared to choke up. You could hear the pain in his voice.

Watching him there -- in Afghanistan, but it could as well have been Iraq -- I couldn't help but think. After how many hundreds of thousands dead in the US's two assaults on those two countries -- what if Williams, or Russert or any of the big power news men ever expressed emotion about other deaths. What if we saw them pause and choke up – even once – at the slaughter of an Afghan family in a misguided US missile attack, or swallow hard while reporting the blowing-to-bits of an Iraqi father as he lined up to buy food or find work?

I know it's possibly a subversive thought for all those deluded believers of objectivity in journalism -- and heaven forbid we challenge convention -- but what if -- what if -- in journalism, mourning, not to mention expressing feelings, wasn't saved up just for journalists? What then, do you think?

You can see this commentary and a whole lot more later today on GRITtv at GRITtv.org

Comments (25)

1. Obviously, the Media does a poor job on covering the war, but I don't think it could fault them for going public with their grief for one of their own.

   Posted by Mask at 06/16/2008 | ignore this person | warn this person

   Makes one wonder where the rumor came about that if you are in trouble and need the cops to show up immediately, dial 911 and tell the dispatcher "officer down."

   Posted by OneVote at 06/16/2008 @ 09:30am

2. ATTENTION THE NATION YOUR WEBSITE IS MESSING UP AGAIN WITH POSTS & POSTING ORDER

   Posted by OneVote at 06/16/2008 @ 09:36am

3. I noticed how cleverly you avoided any praise for Mr. Russert as an objective and unbiased reporter.

   I agree with your main point: the lack of American empathy for the innocent victims of a war of choice.

   But back to Mr. Russert. Mr. Russert may deserve his accolades, but it must be said that he was the best only when compared to his mediocre peers.

   Posted by allen at 06/16/2008 @ 10:30am

4. I noticed how cleverly you avoided any praise for Mr. Russert as an objective and unbiased reporter.

   I agree with your main point: the lack of American empathy for the innocent victims of a war of choice.

   But back to Mr. Russert. Mr. Russert may deserve his accolades, but it must be said that he was the best only when compared to his mediocre peers.

   Posted by allen at 06/16/200

   That was yesterdays article.

   Posted by Cccomfo1 at 06/16/2008 @ 11:37am

5. Like all of us, my life changed forever on September 11, 2001 at 8:46 a.m. I don't believe the English language has yet found the words we need to express our sorrow for what happened on that day. Most of you were just freshman for a few days for a few days here at American University. Only in our hearts can we give full and complete expression of our grief and our shocking sense of personal loss, the agony of seeing our nation so violated. And yet we learn much about ourselves that day; about the fragility of life, about the deep love for our country, and about our real heroes.

   Exerpt from: American University 2005 Commencement Address: Tim Russert

   Like each of you, my life changed forever on September 11th, at 8:46 a.m. The English language does not yet include the words we need to express our sorrow for what happened on that day, and most of you were just juniors in high school. Only in our hearts can we give full and complete expression of our grief, and shocking sense of personal loss, the agony of seeing our nation so violated. Yet we learned much about ourselves that day, about the fragility of life, and the deep love for our country and about who our real heroes are.

   Exerpt from: WUSTL 2007 Commencement Address: Tim Russert

   Sadly, we will never hear the commencment address about the sorrow for the loss of life and tragedy to others wrought by US GWOT abroad. As they say in "news" business.....thats for another speech. I think this is Ms. Flander's point.

   Posted by OneVote at 06/16/2008 @ 12:05pm

6. There's a term for the corporate media sleight of hand.

   When one side is abusive/lying, an 'interview' = propaganda.

   The term is: dissemble \di-ˈsem-bəl\- to put on a false appearance : conceal facts, intentions, or feelings under some pretense

   One sees this with neocon's claim that 'intelligence design' deserves equal footing with evolutionary theory.

   And with Limbaugh's claim that his program balances out the likes of ABC and PBS.

   Posted by winyahn at 06/16/2008 @ 1:06pm

7. Posted by KSP556 at 06/16/2008

   Actually some, well ONE particular McCain nee Hillary supporter might celebrate.

   Posted by Mask at 06/16/2008 @ 2:24pm

8. "What if we saw them pause and choke up – even once – at the slaughter of an Afghan family in a misguided US missile attack, or swallow hard while reporting the blowing-to-bits of an Iraqi father as he lined up to buy food or find work?"

   Watch out with that talk. LVL will come on here and call you a traitor for saying we should care about the countless innocent Iraqis killed because obviously if they were killed they must have been insurgents, thats the only explanation.

   Posted by Cccomfo1 at 06/16/2008 @ 2:44pm

9. Very good point.

   And because it's so appropriate to note, it will be ignored, just as the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis & Afghans are ignored.

   Most of US can name Russett ... but how many Americans can name a dead Iraqi?

   Posted by sloper at 06/16/2008 @ 2:47pm

10. but how many Americans can name a dead Iraqi?

    Posted by sloper

    saddam

    Posted by frosty zoom at 06/16/2008 @ 2:53pm

11. "What if we saw them pause and choke up – even once – at the slaughter of an Afghan family in a misguided US missile attack, or swallow hard while reporting the blowing-to-bits of an Iraqi father as he lined up to buy food or find work?"

    Well if we can't get tears, I'll will settle for outrage. Watch any Keith Olberman's commentaries lately? Or how about Michael Ware's reporting in Iraq when he hasn't been muzzled by his employers.

    Maybe the question should be is not where are the tears, but rather, where is the outrage? I totally agree with you that the US inflicted suffering deserves many tears rather hooorahhhs from a bunch of chickenhawk cheerleaders, many of whom cry for the loss of one their own, but are oblivious and callous to the suffering and loss of millions.

    Posted by OneVote at 06/16/2008 @ 2:56pm

12. BTW - the logic of a Brian Williams is as thick as his hair spray.

    His excuse for mainstream media's wholesale push of the Bush Iraq war agenda is ridiculous.

    "Golly, we were all caught up in the patriotism of the moment...."

    Which came first Mr. Williams......the chicken or the egg?

    Posted by OneVote at 06/16/2008 @ 3:02pm

13. I guess it is to be expected when one of their own falls, but did we need 72 hours of coverage of Russerts life?

    Oh well, that is what the "off" switch is for.

    Posted by crabwalk at 06/16/2008 @ 3:13pm

14. I guess it is to be expected when one of their own falls, but did we need 72 hours of coverage of Russerts life?

    Posted by crabwalk at 06/16/2008 | ignore this person | warn this person

    It was way overdone....and after awhile, it was starting to feel a little creepy....like self glorification of NBC via creating a mythos or deification of a network executive. I nearly puked when I saw former GE CEO Jackie Boy tell the story of how Russert's compensation was determined.

    Something like....'well he wasn't a greedy bastard (like the rest of us corporate officers is implied), and all he wanted to do was the news, so we "loaded" him up anyway. Makes you wonder what Russert would have done if Jackie Boy hadn't loaded him up? What a bunch of bull.

    Posted by OneVote at 06/16/2008 @ 3:33pm

15. Posted by frankgrits at 06/16/2008

    I think that the lack of emotion makes people feel that their reporting is somehow more objective. Which isn't really the case it just turns out to be subjective without emotion. It's funny how easy it is to deceive. But yeah I see your point.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 06/16/2008 @ 3:48pm

16. Obviously, the Media does a poor job on covering the war, but I don't think it could fault them for going public with their grief for one of their own.

    And false choices are rarely accurate...like the old canard about "We spend $10 billion dollars on pet food, why can't we spend $10 billion on child care subsidies" or something equally non-analogous.

    Frankly, Ms Flanders, if Katrina vanden Heuvel (Gosh forbid) had suddenly died...I'm sure not just "The Nation" but your outfit, Huffington Post, Daily Kos, etc. of the "Progressive Media" would grieve tremendously and spend atleast 48, if not 72 hours on her.

    Posted by Mask at 06/16/2008 @ 3:50pm

17. And I'm sure that if Mr. Mask died, the people who post to this discussion thread would want to grieve for at least 72, maybe even 96, hours.

    Posted by KSP556 at 06/16/2008 @ 4:22pm

18. And false choices are rarely accurate...like the old canard about "We spend $10 billion dollars on pet food, why can't we spend $10 billion on child care subsidies" or something equally non-analogous.

    Posted by Mask at 06/16/2008 | ignore this person | warn this person

    Makes you wonder how the rumor got started that if you ever want the cops on the scene immediately, call 911 and say "officer down."

    Posted by OneVote at 06/16/2008 @ 4:48pm

19. You are right. Journalists should get choked up when an American Soldier gets blown to bits. Or when the towers came down. Or when the Taliban hides behind civilians and the civilians die. Or when Al Qaeda blows up people in Iraq and Afghanistan.

    Posted by abell12ct at 06/17/2008 @ 01:11am

20. President Bush got choked up at the site of the towers but he was ridiculed by the left for that.

    Posted by abell12ct at 06/17/2008 @ 01:12am

21. President Bush got choked up at the site of the towers but he was ridiculed by the left for that.

    Posted by abell12ct at 06/17/2008

    I don't remember him being ridiculed by anyone for that. Are you sure you aren't just making that up. I am pretty sure that is when is approval rating was like 80% so there weren't too many people left to ridicule him for that. I think you are possibly just making things up to make Bush seem like the victim.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 06/17/2008 @ 03:23am

22. Posted by abell12ct at 06/17/2008

    ABELL's memory not what it used to be.

    Bush's approvals in the 70s even 80s after 9/11 (not "all conservatives")...and he squandered it on a war we didn't need in Iraq.

    Posted by Mask at 06/17/2008 @ 03:27am

23. President Bush got choked up at the site of the towers but he was ridiculed by the left for that.

    Posted by abell12ct at 06/17/2008 | ignore this person | warn this person

    I think you are confused abell with regard to 9/11. Bush has been ridiculed for insincere sympathy such as promising to give up golf as an unseemly indulgence when our troops are in harm's way and one month later was caught on the golf course.

    Posted by OneVote at 06/17/2008 @ 12:37pm

24. Bush used the rubble of the towers for a photo op. That was such a wrong-headed thing to do. That was probably planned by the same person who adviced hanging the banner that said 'Mission Accomplished' on that aircraft carrier. It was all so unnessary. Bush was a fool. He had the country behind him. He didn't need to play those stunts.

    Posted by frankgrits at 06/17/2008

    And then advised him to fly in on a jet instead of just coming in the normal way?

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 06/17/2008 @ 2:31pm

25. Everybody,

    2 comments -

    1. frankgrits indicates President Bush used the rubble of the towers as a photo op. In his next sentence he does qualify this with "probably planned".

    It was not planned, any account I have read indicates it was spur of the moment. The bullhorn the President used when he was with Firefighter Bob Beckwith was not there ahead of time, and in accounts afterward Mr. Beckwith has said that bullhorn has dissappeared. It was not kept for posterity, and certainly if this was all scripted it would have been kept for a museum.

    2 The author of the article above, Laura Flanders, points out that journalists do not choke up when describing Iraqi deaths she blames on the United States. Of course, not everbody agrees that we are to blame for the Iraq situation, thus Ms. Flanders does not apparently want journalists to be objective reporters but reporters promoting her views on the matter instead.

    After all, if they are going to be choking up at war death, then one would expect them to choke up at the deaths that abell12ct pointed out in the post above also, in other words all death - not just death Ms. Flanders blames on the United States - but death that the United States is over there trying to prevent as well.

    But I suspect Ms. Flanders does not expect or want that out of journalists. And if journalists did choke up at the death that abell12ct mentioned, then Ms. Flanders would no doubt cite journalists with a penalty flag for being propagandists or mouthpieces for the Bush Administration.

    Posted by sjchermak at 06/19/2008 @ 10:39am