Last week was a really rough week for the journalism world. We lost two prominent journalists to unexpected deaths, we’ve had a respected news anchor suspended for six months for misrepresenting his participation in stories, and we’ve learned that our most influential media comedian/commentator is stepping down from his show after 16 years at the desk. This is the second of a series of short posts on this topic.
Long-time 60 Minutes correspondent Bob Simon died in a car crash in New York City on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at the age of 73. He had won four Peabody Awards and 27 Emmys.
Simon was a prominent foreign correspondent who reported on the first war with Iraq, the massacre of civilians during the Bosnian War, and the formation of a symphony orchestra in the Congo. Although he was known for his pretty-boy looks, he was the real deal when it came to reporting. He had been held captive for 40 days in Iraq during the 1991 war.
His obit from CBS News noted that he often rode motorcycles to report on stories, giving him the advantage of getting past traffic and road blocks.