The Passing of a News Legend

It saddened me to hear the news that ABC News anchor, Peter Jennings, passed away last night after battling with lung cancer. In the fake world of broadcast journalism, Jennings was probably the only anchor who kept it real; he didn't just tell us what was going on in the world from what I call the "superior perch" that many TV personalities seem to speak from, but rather seemed to "experience" it all along with us. This was probably the most apparent during the marathon coverage he had during 9/11, when he stayed on air for 18 straight hours, providing millions of Americans with updated coverage on the terrorist attacks while on the verge of breaking down into tears along with all of us. I always loved the way he always let us know just how he felt about certain tidbits of news with his wit and at times, sarcastic delivery, especially during coverage of the Bush Administration. He was tireless in his never-ending mission to bring us the news and stressed the need for Americans to see what was going on in the wonderful world beyond the US, dedicating much of his time to the field during major international news events. For many people in the world of journalism, he was a true inspiration, and as someone who, for a long time, wanted to pursue a career in the journalism field, the news of his passing has hit me incredibly hard.

My prayers go out to his friends, family, and fellow colleagues. He will be missed.