PressEthic

Ted Koppel and Peter Jennings branded the ABC network that was my family's T.V. news choice growing up, and the loss of both of them in one year is quite sad for me. As a broadcast student, Ted Koppel symbolizes an authority in this field that I aspire to become one day. He is urbane, knowledgeable about the world, and has a smart attitude towards news coverage. Nonetheless, the nature of beast is evolving and people do not have time or do not wish to spend the time watching the hour long, single format news program. I guess Nightline is the program version of the PBS network- the public knows it's there, but they choose not to watch it.

To me, Koppel had an art to interviewing. Rather than talk above or over his interviewees, he politely asked and listened intently. We actually had a chance to take in what his guests had to say. It was as if he was saying "Less is more". (The lack of a showy tribute on his last night on the show affirms this). And there was something to say about picking the most important news story of the day and reporting on it in depth. Besides Larry King and 60 Minutes, where else can this long form of broadcast journalism be found? It's a dinosaur that's dying out because people have shorter attention spans.

Koppel's exit has a lot to say about the direction broadcast news is taking. With his departure from Nightline, three new anchors will take his place; one of them being Martin Bashir, famously known for his 2003 interview with Michael Jackson. I wonder whether the program will become more sensationalist, given that the ratings of Ted Koppel's more ponderous style. The cable news shows have certainly gone down that path with their pundits having shouting matches in lieu of civilized debates.

Koppel never wavered in his journalistic style went it came to delivering the news, despite how much the trend in news coverage has changed. And that was probably his downfall. But it was also his legacy. Maybe it's like the French novelist, Honore de Balzac once said "My dear fellow, a journalist is a juggler, and he must accustom himself to the difficulties of his profession." Rather than lower his standards, he took his leave.