Journalistic lessons
The U.S. gave virtually a state burial this week to someone few non-Americans have ever heard of. Tim Russert, a TV journalist, died unexpectedly last Fri., and the level of mourning was something normally reserved for a president. In France, the "political death" of famous news anchor Patrick Poivre d'Arvor - who was fired by TF1 after falling out of favor with Nicolas Sarkozy - met with a negative reaction from the majority of French people. Czech journalists have many lessons to learn - some good, some bad - from these two extraordinary events: How important professional integrity, dedication and preparation is; how to remain skeptical but avoid being cynical; how risky it can be to express personal political views; how to rub elbows with the power elite without being seduced or ruined by it; and how wrong something, somewhere must be if the journalist himself becomes too much of the story.
Glossary of difficult words
state burial/funeral - a public funeral ceremony to honor heads of state or other people of national significance;mourning - the expression of deep sorrow for someone who has died;
to fall out of favor - to lose the approval or support (of someone);
to rub elbows/shoulders - to mix or socialize closely;
power elite - a closely connected group of people who control a disproportionate amount of wealth, privilege and decision-making authority;
to seduce - to lead away from duty, accepted principles, or proper conduct.