The Good of Journalism, Judged

Michele Norris (left) and Gwen Ifill (right) shared their memories of Tim Russert on today's show.

Today, we got some special rememberances of uber-political-journalist Tim Russert from NPR's own Michelle Norris, and Gwen Ifill, host of PBS's Washington Week. They are two of the best hosts in journalism. They are also black women.

I didn't know until he had passed that Russert had mentored not only Ifill, but also CNN's Suzanne Malveaux, among others. Gwen, Michelle and I spoke, among other things, about why Russert mentored younger journalists; and what kind of perspective he got from AND offered the black women he mentored.

The short answer (and Gwen and Michelle's answers are so much more evocative, so please listen) is that he wasn't afraid of different perspectives.

And while his landmark show Meet the Press offered different perspectives, it was also criticized by some for being too reliant on power, and not willing enough to challenge it.

Gwen and Michelle give us their take.

Meanwhile, this is the interchange that most often gets referenced when talking about how tough an interviewer Russert could be.

((Taped in the Oval Office of the White House on February 7, 2004; and aired on Sunday February 8, 2004)))

Russert: How do you respond to critics who say that you brought the nation to war under false pretenses?

President Bush: Yes. First of all, I expected to find the weapons. Sitting behind this desk making a very difficult decision of war and peace, and I based my decision on the best intelligence possible, intelligence that had been gathered over the years, intelligence that not only our analysts thought was valid but analysts from other countries thought were valid.

And ...

Russert: Mr. President, the Director of the CIA said that his briefings had qualifiers and caveats, but when you spoke to the country, you said "there is no doubt." When Vice President Cheney spoke to the country, he said "there is no doubt." Secretary Powell, "no doubt." Secretary Rumsfeld, "no doubt, we know where the weapons are." You said, quote, "The Iraqi regime is a threat of unique urgency." "Saddam Hussein is a threat that we must deal with as quickly as possible."

You gave the clear sense that this was an immediate threat that must be dealt with.

President Bush: I think, if I might remind you that in my language I called it a grave and gathering threat, but I don't want to get into word contests. But what I do want to share with you is my sentiment at the time. There was no doubt in my mind that Saddam Hussein was a danger to America. No doubt.

You can read the full transcript of the exchange here.

Journalism like this can change the flow of information in Washington and beyond, having a huge ripple effect.

I did not know Russert, but I will go out on not-so-narrow a limb and assume he knew that some people would look at his interviews and see bias. It's a kind of judgment every working journalist faces. And you have to make peace with it in order to do your job.

Tim Russert, journalists will miss you... especially in Election '08.

Farai Chideya

Tags: Meet the Press | Tim Russert

6:28 PM ET | 06-16-2008 | permalink

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