Jim Lehrer (image via PBS)
Veteran news anchor Jim Lehrer, who co-founded and helmed the PBS NewsHour for 36 years before retiring in 2011, passed away in his sleep on Thursday at his home in Washington. He was 85.
From the New York Times:
While best known for his anchor work, which he shared for two decades with his colleague Robert MacNeil, Mr. Lehrer moderated a dozen presidential debates and was the author of more than a score of novels, which often drew on his reporting experiences. He also wrote four plays and three memoirs.
A low-key, courtly Texan who worked on Dallas newspapers in the 1960s and began his PBS career in the 1970s, Mr. Lehrer saw himself as “a print/word person at heart” and his program as a kind of newspaper for television, with high regard for balanced and objective reporting.
He was an oasis of civility in a news media that thrived on excited headlines, gotcha questions and noisy confrontations.
In 2001, Lehrer shared with The American Journalism Review he might be viewed as old-fashioned for believing “news is not a commodity.”
“News is information that’s required in a democratic society, and Thomas Jefferson said a democracy is dependent on an informed citizenry. That sounds corny, but I don’t care whether it sounds corny or not. It’s the truth.”
RIP Jim Lehrer.
Jim Lehrer was a giant in journalism. His tenacity and dedication to simply delivering the news remain the core of our work at the PBS NewsHour.
Here’s @JudyWoodruff delivering the news of Jim’s passing today. pic.twitter.com/dSXj5tsaiD
— PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) January 23, 2020
With heavy hearts we report the death of PBS NewsHour co-founder Jim Lehrer at age 85. A giant in journalism, his tenacity and dedication to simply delivering the news remain the core of our work. https://t.co/UlFKURhOcL
— PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) January 23, 2020
I am devastated to share news that my dear friend and cofounder of the @NEWSHOUR Jim Lehrer died today at home. Sending love to his Kate and their family. https://t.co/ZxNsCcaZBj
— Judy Woodruff (@JudyWoodruff) January 23, 2020
In the trenches of electronic journalism over the decades, I met a lot of people. Few approached their work with more equanimity and integrity than Jim Lehrer. He was a gentlemen, and a helluva journalist. He will be missed.
— Dan Rather (@DanRather) January 23, 2020
Oh no…. Jim Lehrer has passed away. What a loss. A wonderful man and superb journalist. https://t.co/XpVlbWlZDF
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 23, 2020
Our nation has lost a champion for truth and transparency. As one of the founders of PBS NewsHour, as well as its longtime host, Jim Lehrer worked to keep America’s leaders accountable to the people. My prayers are with his wife, Kate, and their family. https://t.co/5BU80D0u3p
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 23, 2020
