As a former print journalist, it's been with dismay that I've watched TV news shows dumb down, play "gotcha" journalism, do shock and awe, have news hosts who're no more than "talking heads." As a former PR counselor, remember telling clients to NOT do a 60-Minute interview as, no matter what they said during a 2-hour interview, most of their points would wind up on the editing room floor.

Tim Russert, despite his party leaning, gave viewers unbiased, indepth interviews and reporting. Yes, with his eyes, eyebrows, smile and words, he could drill into responses by those he interviewed, be like a dog with a bone, not allowing interviewees to simply stick with their pre-planned three key messages or "playing the three aces."

Yet, he did this with grace as one of most consumate TV reporters of our generation

I never miss "Meet the Press" on Sunday mornings. It will be interesting to see who can fill those magnificent Russert shoes.

Sorry I missed that TV show many moons ago.

Russert can't be included among "news readers," "talking heads." As for overblown coverage of his death --- his "second family" was the TV media, especially NBC, thus the tributes accorded to him.

Wonder if there's a chance Tom Brokow will at least fill in on "Meet the Press" until a permanent anchor is named?

What really bothers me is that newspapers, in order to stay in business, consider obits as classified advertising for income purposes. Used to be that a death of a local resident was considered news. Ahhh, but times change.