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Journalism’s coupe de grace?

ABC News Anchor Peter Jennings Dies at 67

I don’t believe that American journalism will ever recover. And I don’t know what else to say.

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  1. sttropezbutler says

    8 August 2005 at 11:41

    Odd how a death will catch one off guard..which having written that sounds so flip. I don’t mean to sound flip. I was profoundly saddened by PJ’s death. I remember the AMAZING coverage as we ushered in 2000 in a long list of amazing news moments he covered! So long PJ RIP

  2. Woodstock says

    8 August 2005 at 11:52

    It doesn’t sound flip, at least not to me. It speaks to how permanent a part of everyday life someone becomes when you can’t conceive of the idea of that person not being around any more. I still remember one time when I was in high school, watching TV after I got home like I was *not* supposed to, when Peter Jennings came on to do a “newsbreak.” He messed up reading the copy, put his head down on the desk (you could even see his little bald spot in the back) and said, “I’m sorry, it’s my fault.” And from off camera I could hear this “Peter, we’re live” stage whisper. Beat. Beat. He sits up, stacks his papers neatly, and they go to commercial. It made him human, which is something Dan and Tom never were to me.

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