Lehrer’s Principles
May 13, 2011, 8:19 pm
Posted by Robert P. Imbelli
Jim Lehrer is continuing to step back from his “Newshour” duties, graciously ceding his place to younger colleagues. Here is a recap of his distinguished career. At the end of the segment he enunciates the “guidelines” which have made him one of the most respected voices in American journalism. Ad multos annos!
He is a good and fair man. I also heard him once say that he does not vote in order to maintain his objectivity and balance.
He is a credit to the profession of journalism.
Thanks for giving the clip wider coverage. I hope it gets people and J-schools to think about what happens when grinding out a daily newspaper is no longer the proving ground for reporters. I planned to use his guidelines in my Mass Com class this summer.
Highlight was the clip of Fidel Castro smoking a cigar.
For those of us who cut our teeth watching a VERY YOUNG Jim Lehrer and slightly older Robert McNeil on the “McNeil Lehrer Show” (it wasn’t an hour in those days) it is hard to believe that they are both in their “retirement mode”. What does that say to and for those of us who are in their age cohort? Brrrrrrrrrrr.
McNeil’s tribute on the News Hour last night said it just right.
Lehrer’s lessons on leadership, how to step aside gracefully and convey values is something many other folks in important roles could learn from -and not just the Donald for example.
The succession issue is one that all of us of a certain age have grappled with. Do we think the NEWSHOUR has successfully dealt with this?