Luke Russert

Last updated
Luke Russert
Luke Russert on Now with Alex Wagner (2012).jpg
Russert in 2012
Born (1985-08-22) August 22, 1985 (age 38)
New York, NY, U.S.
EducationB.A. degree in history and communications, Boston College
Occupation(s)Author, Journalist
Parent(s) Tim Russert
Maureen Orth

Luke Orth Russert (born August 22, 1985) is an American author and broadcast news correspondent, who worked for NBC News from 2008 to 2016. [1] His reporting was seen on NBC Nightly News , TODAY , NBCNews.com, and MSNBC. He also was a guest anchor on various MSNBC programs, including Andrea Mitchell Reports and Way Too Early .

Contents

In May 2023, after seven years away from media, Russert's travel memoir Look for Me There, about his three-and-a-half year journey through six continents and more than 60 countries, was published by HarperHorizon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. The book became a New York Times Bestseller. [2]

Early life and career start

Russert is the son of newsman Tim Russert and Maureen Orth, a special correspondent for Vanity Fair .

Russert graduated from St. Albans School in Washington, D.C. in 2004. [3]

He worked for ESPN's Pardon the Interruption [4] while a student at Boston College, where he double-majored in Communications and History and graduated in 2008. [5] Russert also co-hosted the sports talk program called 60/20 Sports on XM Satellite Radio with James Carville while at Boston College.

NBC career

Russert at the 2008 Democratic National convention LukeRussert (cropped1).JPG
Russert at the 2008 Democratic National convention

In August 2008, two months after the death of his father, and with two years of experience of hosting a national radio show on SiriusXM, Russert was hired by NBC News as a correspondent covering youth issues as part of its coverage of the 2008 presidential election. He was assigned to cover both the Democratic and Republican conventions. [6] [7] His election day report, which explored the impact of Barack Obama's win on young people, contributed to NBC's News & Documentary Emmy award for its 2008 Election Night coverage. [8]

He has openly acknowledged that critics in the media, including some colleagues, have leveled accusations of unqualified nepotism, because of both his father's position at NBC and his mother's position as a Vanity Fair correspondent, given that he had virtually no professional on air television experience at the time of his hiring. [9]

From May 2009 to July 2016, he worked for NBC News on Capitol Hill as a Congressional correspondent covering the House of Representatives. He made headlines in 2010 when he received a public apology from Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY), who was at the time serving as House Ways and Means Committee Chairman. Congressman Rangel had criticized Russert's aggressive questioning over an ethics report that showed Rangel's fiscal indiscretions and illegal donation solicitations, but then reversed his stance and apologized to Russert instead. [10]

In 2011, he also reported on Hurricane Irene for NBC News. [11]

In February 2012, Russert made his primetime debut on NBC's Dateline with "Conviction," which examined whether the 1998 murder conviction of Jon-Adrian Velazquez was justified or whether Velazquez was wrongly sentenced to life imprisonment for a murder he didn't commit. [12] The episode was nominated for a News & Documentary Emmy award for Best Report in a News Magazine. [13]

Russert has claimed that the American media can be biased against people of religious faith, going so far as to suggest that it treats them with a certain degree of snark, labeling them as "puritanical" and "not understanding of others or of different viewpoints", which in his view is lazy and contributes to "[feeding] the snickering masses." [14]

Russert hosted The Briefing, a web-only show on msnbc.com. [15]

Russert suddenly resigned from NBC in July 2016, saying he needed to evaluate his career opportunities. [1]

Personal life

As of 2012 Russert was involved with charitable causes that were supported by his father. [16] On April 20, 2010, he took the role of emcee of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington's annual Congressional dinner, which was renamed after his father. [17]

He has told Politico that, as a sports junkie, he makes sure to watch ESPN's SportsCenter and College GameDay and NBC's Sunday Night Football . He also told Politico that his favorite watering holes in D.C. are Ireland's Four Fields in Woodley Park because its bartenders "pour a great Guinness, and on any given night you can catch some first-rate live music." He also likes Billy Martin's Tavern in Georgetown because "you never know who you will be seated next to at the bar. It could be a cop coming off his shift, a college student or even a congressman." [18]

He contributed an essay titled "What I Learned From My Dad" to Parade for its June 19, 2011 issue. [19]

Russert is a member of the Buffalo Fan Alliance Board, an organization committed to keeping the Buffalo Bills within the city of Buffalo, New York, the hometown of his father. In 2013, he said "I honestly think being a Bills fan is something that’s passed down into your blood. My grandfather was a die hard Bills fans and he passed it on to my dad. I was given a Buffalo Bills jersey when I was probably two years old, so there was really never any doubt that I’d be a Bills fan." [20]

In 2014, he penned an introduction, dedicated to his father, for the tenth anniversary of his father's bestselling book Big Russ and Me. [21]

Related Research Articles

<i>Meet the Press</i> American news/interview television program

Meet the Press is a weekly American television Sunday morning talk show broadcast on NBC. It is the longest-running program on American television, though its format has changed since the debut episode on November 6, 1947. Meet the Press specializes in interviews with leaders in Washington, D.C., across the country, and around the world on issues of politics, economics, foreign policy, and other public affairs, along with panel discussions that provide opinions and analysis. In January 2021, production moved to NBC's bureau on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NBC News</span> News division of NBCUniversal

NBC News is the news division of the American broadcast television network NBC. The division operates under NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, a division of NBCUniversal, which is, in turn, a wholly owned subsidiary of Comcast. The news division's various operations report to the president of NBC News, Noah Oppenheim. The NBCUniversal News Group also comprises MSNBC, the network's 24-hour general news channel, business and consumer news channels CNBC and CNBC World, the Spanish language Noticias Telemundo and United Kingdom–based Sky News.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith Olbermann</span> American sports and political commentator (born 1959)

Keith Theodore Olbermann is an American sports and political commentator and writer. Olbermann spent the first 20 years of his career in sports journalism. He was a sports correspondent for CNN and for local TV and radio stations in the 1980s, winning the Best Sportscaster award from the California Associated Press three times. He co-hosted ESPN's SportsCenter from 1992 to 1997. From 1998 to 2001, he was a producer and anchor for Fox Sports Net and a host for Fox Sports' coverage of Major League Baseball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Russert</span> American lawyer and TV journalist (1950–2008)

Timothy John Russert was an American television journalist and lawyer who appeared for more than 16 years as the longest-serving moderator of NBC's Meet the Press. He was a senior vice president at NBC News, Washington bureau chief and also hosted an eponymous CNBC/MSNBC weekend interview program. He was a frequent correspondent and guest on NBC's The Today Show and Hardball. Russert covered several presidential elections, and he presented the NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey on the NBC Nightly News during the 2008 U.S. presidential election. Time magazine included Russert in its list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2008. Russert was posthumously revealed as a 30-year source for syndicated columnist Robert Novak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrea Mitchell</span> American journalist and news anchor

Andrea Mitchell is an American television journalist, anchor and commentator for NBC News, based in Washington, D.C.

<i>Countdown with Keith Olbermann</i> American TV series or program

Countdown with Keith Olbermann is a weekday podcast that originated as an hour-long weeknight news and political commentary program hosted by Keith Olbermann that aired on MSNBC from 2003 to 2011 and on Current TV from 2011 to 2012. The show presented five selected news stories of the day, with commentary by Olbermann and interviews of guests. At the start of Countdown, Olbermann told television columnist Lisa de Moraes:

Our charge for the immediate future is to stay out of the way of the news. ... News is the news. We will not be screwing around with it. ... As times improve and the war [in Iraq] ends we will begin to introduce more and more elements familiar to my style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Gregory (journalist)</span> American television journalist and presenter

David Michael Gregory is an American television personality and the former host of NBC News' Sunday morning talk show Meet the Press. Gregory has served as a CNN political analyst since 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norah O'Donnell</span> American television journalist

Norah Morahan O'Donnell is an American television journalist who is currently anchor of the CBS Evening News, a correspondent for 60 Minutes, and current host of Person to Person. She has worked with several mainstream media outlets throughout her career, including as former co-anchor of CBS This Morning, Chief White House Correspondent for CBS News, and a substitute host for CBS's Sunday morning show Face the Nation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maureen Orth</span> American journalist

Maureen Orth is an American journalist, author, and a Special Correspondent for Vanity Fair magazine. She is the founder of Marina Orth Foundation, which has established a model education program in Colombia emphasizing technology, English, and leadership. She is the widow of TV journalist Tim Russert.

The Gridiron Club is the oldest and among the most prestigious journalistic organizations in Washington, D.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Harwood (journalist)</span> American journalist

John Harwood is an American journalist who worked as White House Correspondent for CNN from February 2021 until September 2022. Harwood was formerly an editor-at-large for CNBC. He was the chief Washington Correspondent for CNBC and a contributor for The New York Times. He wrote a weekly column entitled "The Caucus" that appeared on Monday about Washington politics and policy. Before joining the Times, he wrote for The Wall Street Journal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chuck Todd</span> American journalist

Charles David Todd is an American television journalist who was the 12th moderator of NBC's Meet the Press. He also hosted Meet the Press Now, its daily edition on NBC News Now and is the Political Director for NBC News. Before taking the helm of Meet the Press, Todd was Chief White House correspondent for NBC as well as host of The Daily Rundown on MSNBC. He also serves as NBC News' on-air political analyst for NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt and Today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Shuster</span> American television journalist

David Martin Shuster is an American television journalist and talk radio host. He most recently served as principal anchor and managing editor for i24 News, previously serving as an anchor for MSNBC and worked for Fox News, CNN, Current TV, The Young Turks and Al Jazeera America.

Morning Joe is an American morning news talk show, airing weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the cable news channel MSNBC. It features former Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough reporting and discussing the news of the day in a panel format with co-hosts Mika Brzezinski and Willie Geist, who regularly co hosts from Tuesdays to Fridays, along with recurring and special guests.

<i>Andrea Mitchell Reports</i> News show on MSNBC hosted by American journalist Andrea Mitchell

Andrea Mitchell Reports is a news show on MSNBC broadcast weekdays at 12 PM ET/9 AM PT hosted by Andrea Mitchell. She originally was an anchor under the MSNBC Live umbrella before getting her own distinct show, although as of March 2021, the program is branded as part of its successor MSNBC Reports. She is NBC News’ Chief Foreign Affairs correspondent. While the show is based in Washington, D.C., it will typically go on location to where Mitchell is reporting for NBC News.

Thomas Eugene Costello is an American journalist and correspondent for NBC News, based in Washington, D.C. His reports appear across NBC News platforms, including online, The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, MSNBC, and CNBC. His portfolio of coverage includes aviation and transportation, NASA, consumer and regulatory issues, business and economics. He is currently the primary substitute anchor for Hallie Jackson NOW on NBC News Now, the network's streaming platform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Viqueira</span>

'Michael Viqueira is the Washington Bureau Chief for NewsNation. He was White House correspondent for Al Jazeera America, which closed in 2016. Previously, he covered politics at NBC News and appeared on The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, and MSNBC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ari Melber</span> American television journalist (born 1980)

Ari Naftali Melber is an American attorney and Emmy-winning journalist who is the chief legal correspondent for MSNBC and host of The Beat with Ari Melber.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Costa (journalist)</span> American investigative journalist

Robert Costa is an American political reporter who is the chief election and campaign correspondent for CBS News. Prior to joining CBS in 2022, Costa was a longtime national political reporter for The Washington Post. Previously, he was a political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC and the moderator and managing editor of Washington Week on PBS. He is the co-author with Bob Woodward of Peril, a # 1 New York Times bestseller on the final days of the Trump presidency, including the 2021 United States Capitol attack.

Olivier Knox is a French American journalist who is the chief Washington correspondent for Sirius XM. In addition to his career at Agence France-Presse and Yahoo News, he is most known for chairing the White House Correspondents' Association and for his reboot of the White House Correspondents Dinner into its original format, which saw the elimination of the tradition of having a comedian as the featured speaker and an absence of A-list celebrities at the event.

References

  1. 1 2 Battaglio, Stephen (July 13, 2016). "Luke Russert is leaving NBC News: 'It's the right decision for me at this time'". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  2. ↑ "Best Sellers - Books - May 21, 2023 - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  3. ↑ Yao, Laura (2008-06-18). "At St. Albans, Bidding Russert Farewell - washingtonpost.com". Washington Post . Retrieved 2008-09-13.
  4. ↑ XM Biographies Archived 2006-11-10 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ Bauder, David (September 19, 2008). "Young Russert follows in father's footsteps". The Columbus Dispatch (The Associated Press).
  6. ↑ "NBC News hires Luke Russert to cover Republican, Democratic Conventions", Daily News, July 31, 2008.
  7. ↑ "NBC Hires Luke Russert as a Correspondent", New York Times , July 31, 2008
  8. ↑ "NBC Universal Media Village". Talent Bios: Luke Russert.
  9. ↑ Kurtz, Howard (2010-12-06). "The Education of Luke Russert". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
  10. ↑ Ciarello, Joe (23 July 2010). "Rep. Rangel Apologizes to Russert After Accusing Him of Asking 'Dumb Question'". PR Newser. Ad Week.
  11. ↑ Rothstein, Betsy (29 August 2011). "Luke Russert Declares Himself a 'Dunkin' Guy'". Fishbowl DC. Ad Week.
  12. ↑ "Conviction". LukeRussert.net.
  13. ↑ Morrison, Sara (11 July 2013). "CBS, PBS Lead Nominations for News & Documentary Emmys". The Wrap.
  14. ↑ Brody, David (2013-10-15). "Luke Russert on Media's Faith Bias". Christian Broadcasting Network - The Brody File. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  15. ↑ "The Briefing". MSNBC.com.
  16. ↑ "26th Annual Tim Russert Congressional Dinner". Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  17. ↑ "NitePics: Luke Russert Takes His Late Father's Role at Congressional Dinner". NBCWashington.com. April 21, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  18. ↑ "Click: Luke Russert". POLITICO.
  19. ↑ Russert, Luke (13 June 2013). "What I Learned From My Dad". Parade: Entertainment, Recipes, Health, Life, Holidays.
  20. ↑ Stolzenberg, Anna. "Through generations of Russerts, Bills legacy lives on". Buffalo Bills News.
  21. ↑ Ariens, Chris (7 May 2014). "Luke Russert Pens New Introduction to Tim Russert's 'Big Russ and Me'". TV Newser.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.