The Legacy of Peter Jennings

It's hard to believe that six years have passed since the world lost Peter Jennings.  The Canadian-born, American broadcaster - who later obtained earned U.S. Citizenship - is the reason I have always wanted to be in television journalism.  As early as I can remember, before even the start of elementary school, Peter was part of my daily routine.  Each night, after dinner, we would watch the end of the local news - and then sit tight for ABC's "World News Tonight with Peter Jennings".

His career was impressive: after several years of reporting for Canadian television - Jennings would come stateside to spend the next 40 years at ABC News.  First as a reporter, then as chief foreign correspondent, and finally - for 22 years - as anchor and senior editor of "World News Tonight".  During his tenure in that final role, he shaped the news coverage of the entire network - and became the face of the news division.  He was adamant about covering events around the world - issues that mattered, whether they were popular or not.

He drew on his extensive reporting background to make editorial decisions when anchoring from New York ("from ABC News world headquarters in New York, this is World News Tonight with Peter Jennings").  When the story couldn't be told from behind a desk, he was on a plane to report and anchor from the field.  It was that genuine drive to not only cover the story, but get to the bottom of it, that earned the respect of viewers, colleagues, and competitors alike.  Peter's delivery conveyed a measured sense of importance and experience, yet wasn't sensational...and he could do it with or without a teleprompter.  It was that skill that made him indispensable during breaking news special reports - in particular the week of 9/11.

That special relationship he formed with his viewers made the news of his death on August 7th, 2005, that much harder to take.  He had announced in early April he had been diagnosed with lung cancer - admitting he had been a smoker for many years, had quit, and started back up during 9/11.  The response was immediate.  Messages of sadness and offers of condolences came pouring in to the comment section on the ABC News website - and not just from the United States, but all over the world.  Viewers in Canada who have access to American television...and people in the UK who watched "World News Tonight" rebroadcast by the BBC.

The wide range of people Peter connected with during his long career speaks to the quality of his work.  Everyone in television news can still learn from his story telling.  By doing so, we can continue his legacy of telling stories that matter and that resonate - perhaps even changing people's lives.  He set the bar high - and we should be inspired to follow his lead and not take the easy way out.  To find ways to make important stories visual, and find characters who will make complex issues hit home.  Yes, at the end of the day, the news is still a business that needs to remain viable - but it's also a public service, a duty to the viewers we serve.  A true journalist won't lose sight of that.

The day after Peter died, ABC News began honoring his life and career.  Below, in three parts, is the special edition of "World News Tonight with Peter Jennings" that aired Monday, August 8th, 2005.  Anchored by longtime friend and colleague Charles Gibson, the broadcast was just one of many well-done tributes to the legendary reporter and anchor.








LINKS TO ADDITIONAL PETER JENNINGS TRIBUTES:

ABC News obituary for Peter Jennings

Peter Jennings page at the Museum of Broadcast Communications

The Peter Jennings Project for Journalists and the Constitution

The Documentary Group (succeeded "PJ Productions" - Jennings' production company)

Resources to quit smoking

NEWS: Fire at Perinton Apartments

I was just about to leave work Friday night when I heard over the scanner that there was an apparent structure fire in Perinton. It was about 11:30. The dispatch described flames coming from an apartment complex. Having nothing better to do, I headed over to the scene on Blackwatch Trail (across Rt. 31 from the Perinton Wegmans.

I could tell it must have been a good sized fire when I saw smoke in the distance as I got closer. I parked in a plaza next door and walked over. A firetruck was blocking the entrance to the complex, and was pumping water from a hydrant. There were no visible flames by the time I got there, but a good deal of smoke rising from the space once occupied by a roof.

Armed with a BlackBerry, I started taking pictures and shot about 5 minutes of video. Amazingly, the 3.2 MP, pen-tip-sized lens actually captured some half decent stuff. My hands were freezing (ironic - watching a fire with fingers so cold you could barely feel them), so there was no way I was going to try to get an interview. We could call the next day for that.

The details to be learned the next morning: multiple fire departments responded to the call, with flames from the roof by the time they got there.  Luckily no injuries, but several units were destroyed, and about 6 families have been displaced. The Red Cross is providing assistance. No word on cause - although I did notice rolled up carpeting in multiple dumpsters around the complex. Makes me think a remodeling effort was underway - perhaps related somehow - but that's pure speculation. At the end of the day, a sad experience for residents. For me, an interesting Friday night that led to what I'm calling "cell phone journalism."