Jim Lehrer, 1934-2020

A job well done

In 1970, I was an avid viewer of Jim Lehrer’s Newsroom, a late-afternoon news program on Dallas’ KERA in which Lehrer presided over a roundtable of journalists discussing politics and public affairs.

His colleagues included Billy Porterfield, a balding, fiercely mustachioed observer of politics and culture; Patsy Swank, a matronly icon of the Dallas arts scene; and Lee Collum, attractive, cool and sophisticated, with a steely gaze and an insider’s knowledge of Dallas.

Then there was Lehrer, years away from national fame, smooth as aged Scotch, sensible, tough-minded and fair, with a wry sense of humor and a clear-eyed view of the world in all its messy glory.

Watching Lehrer and his colleagues was to see the possibilities of a career in journalism. I was a college student seeking a career in newspapers, and I burned with envy and admiration as these smart, articulate professionals discussed the news of the day, exposing the mendacity of politicians and peeling away the bureaucratic nonsense of city and county government.

One program stands out. On the day that the Kennedy memorial was dedicated in downtown Dallas, Lehrer opened Newsroom by telling his audience that the format of that day’s show was going to be a little different. Instead of the usual roundtable discussion, they were going to broadcast portions of the dedication ceremonies. Afterward, he said, they would present a photo essay from a KERA photographer who had covered the event.

What followed were large unedited segments of the speeches given by Dallas officials at the ceremony. They were self-congratulatory, self-serving and vapid. Dallas County Judge Lew Sterritt described in detail the number of liquor stores and dilapidated buildings that had been razed to make room for the memorial.

Not a single speech mentioned John Kennedy’s name. Not a single one. The man for whom the ceremony was dedicated was eclipsed completely by Dallas’ elected elite. The emission was both stunning and outrageous.

By contrast, the photo essay, presented without commentary, was powerful and inspiring. It showed, in photo after photo, the wide diversity of the crowd who attended the dedication. Black and white. Men and women. Old and young. A solemn gathering, their faces registering a range of emotions. All brought together to honor the president who had been gunned down on their streets and who had been that day’s forgotten man.

As the photos faded, the studio lights came up and the camera showed Lehrer, sitting alone, eyes shining with tears. “That’s our program for today,” he said. “Good night.”

No mention was made of Dallas leaders’ dismal performance, which contrasted so sharply with the crowd’s authentic and emotional response. None was necessary. The message of that program was so powerful that I remember it vividly a half century later.

Lehrer died yesterday at the age of 85. But his legacy lives on wherever and whenever honest, hard-working journalists endeavor to keep the public well-informed and safe.

Here are Jim Lehrer's Rules of Journalism:

I practice journalism in accordance with the following guidelines:  

• Do nothing I cannot defend.

• Do not distort, lie, slant or hype.

• Do not falsify facts or make up quotes.

• Cover, write and present every story with the care I would want if the story were about me.

• Assume there is at least one other side or version to every story.

• Assume the viewer is as smart and caring and good a person as I am.

• Assume the same about all people on whom I report.

• Assume everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

• Assume personal lives are a private matter until a legitimate turn in the story mandates otherwise.  

• Carefully separate opinion and analysis from straight news stories and clearly label it as such.

• Do not use anonymous sources or blind quotes except on rare and monumental occasions.  No one should ever be allowed to attack another anonymously.

• Do not broadcast profanity or the end result of violence unless it is an integral and necessary part of the story and/or crucial to its understanding.

• Acknowledge that objectivity may be impossible but fairness never is.

• Journalists who are reckless with facts and reputations should be disciplined by their employers.

• My viewers have a right to know what principles guide my work and the process I use in their practice.

• I am not in the entertainment business.

Rest in peace, Jim Lehrer. Thanks for a job well done.