A noteworthy career

I watched with interest NBC’s special this evening on Tom Brokaw’s career in journalism — all the times he has been eyewitness to history.

I missed the first half of the documentary, but what I did see covered most of the big news of my lifetime (albeit relatively short). The fall of the Berlin Wall is one of my first news memories; I knew so little at the time.

Tom Brokaw was the anchor my family watched when I was growing up — not necessarily because my parents preferred him, but, more likely, because the NBC affiliate 60 miles away was the best signal we could get through the antenna attached to our house. I remember hearing Brokaw’s voice and the NBC nightly news those days as my mother cooked dinner. Oh, the simple times.

I rarely watch Brokaw’s broadcast any more. I’m an insatiable news junkie — I’m not satisfied by the 24-hour news cycle of newspapers or the major networks’ coverage. Instead, I read news on the Internet all day; when I’m at home, I watch the Fox News Channel.

But despite the changing news market in which Americans live, I’m struck with the reputation Brokaw has maintained — deservedly — over all these years. He’s still a newsman people can trust. And Dan Rather’s recent debacle with fabricated documents about President Bush’s National Guard service only affirms Brokaw’s high place as a man of integrity.

Brokaw, though, has contributed more than reporting the news. He has been a leader, too, and for that I thank him. I’ve never read his book The Greatest Generation. I probably should, and likely will get around to it someday. But he’s right: my grandparents are from The Greatest Generation. Their stories of sacrifice and patriotism from the World War II era indeed invoke an appreciation that is difficult to put into words.

I don’t know whether tonight’s special will be rebroadcast. If it is, please watch it.