I had the awesome experience of meeting Tim Russert once, in 2001 when my graduate journalism class spent a week in Washington DC. During that trip, we got to watch a taping of “Meet the Press,” and after the show Russert came over to chat with us.
Having watched his show faithfully for years, I was full of questions for Russert, prompting him to ask me: “You want my job, don’t you?”
Even after the meeting, I watched the show for lessons on how to be a good journalist - thorough, and persistent, and tough, but always civil and fair and true to the craft. He really was one of my journalistic heroes, and today I am very, very shocked and sad.
