June 13, 2008

I feel absolutely heartbroken to hear that Tim Russert has died.

NBC News reports Russert collapsed of a heart attack early this afternoon while working at NBC’s Washington bureau where he served as bureau chief. Russert died shortly after. He was 58.

I’ve had the privilege to meet Russert twice. The first time was during the 2005 Al Neuharth Free Spirit journalism conference in Washington D.C., when I was a senior in high school. As part of the conference, the other Free Spirits and myself were able to visit the NBC studios in Washington and talk with Russert for about an hour. He had to leave in a hurry - but in true journalistic fashion, I “pounced” on him before he could and begged for a quick picture. I was the only oneof the 101 students at the conference to get a picture with Russert.

The second time I met him was just less than two months ago, during my internship in Washington D.C. when I was called on to help with Newsday’s coverage of Pope Benedict’s visit to the White House on April 16. My job was to provide back-up for our bureau chief, who was working the print press pool that day, but I was pretty much able to sit back and enjoy the day.

 I arrived at the White House press briefing room shortly after 8 a.m. The press room was a-buzz with journalists from all forms of media. I took a seat and waited for orders from my bureau chief and/or the Secret Service agents, who were to lead us to our assigned viewing area. While I was absorbing the shock of my fantastical circumstance - Matt Lauer and Tim Russert walked through the doorway and back to the NBC desks. I gasped, froze - then decided, “What the heck? I’m not going to pass up an opportunity to meet two great broadcast journalists!!” I sheepishly approached Lauer when he came back into the press room, I asked for an autograph and photo - then Russert walked up from the backroom, and I was able to talk with both of them for a few minutes, while walking away with precious memories.

One special moment I’ll never forget was when Lauer and I were about to take the photo, Lauer asked if I wanted Russert in it too or a separate one. I told him, “Sure, I’d love one with all three of us!”

So Lauer grabbed Russert around the shoulder and said, “Cum ‘ere, Timmy!”

Famous journalists can be fickle, I’ve learned - some are the nicest, warmest people you’ll ever meet and others just don’t like to be approached by adoring fans (or even aspiring journalists). Lauer and Russert are most certainly the former. They were more than happy to talk with me and learn about my journalistic ambitions. When I told Russert that I’d met him three years ago, he acknowledged that conference and congratulated me for being chosen for it. He was as gracious and humble as they come.

Beyond that, Russert was a huge inspiration for me to pursue political journalism. My first memory of being enamored by politics was during the 2000 presidential election. I was in the hospital that Election Day, getting surgery for chronic sinus infections. I was in-between times of sleep and awake for most of that day and night. I remember vividly turning on the T.V. each time I woke up throughout the night, and each time the T.V. flickered back to life - there were Tom Brokaw and Tim Russert commentating the ever-flipflopping election returns. I wanted to be them - leading America through that dramatic night with the most up-to-date news of the hour.

Today is a sad day for journalism. Russert provided political commentary and reporting that were rare for today’s “cable-babble” world. He was tough on politicians, but always fair, and had the talent for keeping his personal political opinions buried beneath the surface.

He was a great man, and he’ll be missed.

~ Kristen M. Daum, City Desk intern at The Oklahoman

Posted: 13 Jun, 2008 at 3:11 p.m. | By: Oklahoman Intern.