The-News-Leader.com - Smoke Signals: Russert blazed path for industry

by Tim Troglen, Reporter

Tim Russert was what I strive to be.

According to retired CBS News anchorman Walter Cronkite, Russert was "a standard bearer for journalistic ethics and integrity."

And while his voice was silenced June 13 by a sudden heart attack, the wordsmith, who was said to be as comfortable sitting with presidents in the White House as he was drinking a beer with childhood friends in Buffalo, left a reputation for honesty in journalism that should be mirrored by all who strive to bring information to the public.

As denizens of the Old West would say, Russert, 58, "died with his boots on." When death called, he was doing what he loved, preparing for his weekly news magazine show on NBC's "Meet the Press."

What a better way to go?

I never met Russert. Nor have I necessarily been a fan of "Meet the Press."

But I was a Russert fan.

In a time when journalists have been caught faking war coverage, falsifying news sources or claiming to find lost tribes in South American jungles, Russert was able to hold his head high, still believing in his chosen profession.

Watching Russert interview guests -- never taking a side based on political lines or party bias -- was like watching an artist paint. Each question was a brush stroke, building on the previous answer, until the canvas was filled and the viewer fulfilled.

I would see him on various late-night talk show appearances, or as I was flipping through the myriad cable news channels. I would always stop and give a few minutes to Russert and whatever topic he was discussing.

He always gave me a laugh with his quirky sense of humor and that easy smile under those intense eyes. Russert struck me as the type of guy I could go fishing with on a Saturday morning, sharing a Thermos of coffee and a sack of sandwiches.

Not only did we share the same first name and a love for older rock tunes, but also I like to think that we shared a passion for trying to bring news to our viewers and readers in an honest and easy-to-understand manner.

Tom Brokaw, both a colleague and personal friend of Russert, said, "He went through life as if drinking from a fire hydrant ... he took it all in."

During Russert's tenure at "Meet the Press," it appeared he made friends with people from every walk of life, treating each one as a friend and making them feel at ease with the tough questions he had to ask.

The day after Russert's death, President George W. Bush told the world that "Tim Russert loved his country, he loved his family and he loved his job."

What more needs to be said -- except thank you, Tim.

I'll do my best to honor your legacy.

E-mail: TTroglen@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3165