Peter Jennings

[kostgard]

Interesting that he was a high school dropout but maintained a lifelong love of learning and was probably smarter than most people with multiple degrees.

I think he was a unique dropout in that he was basically already working and that's why he quit school. I think I read that he had his own radio news program when he was just a kid. He has said several times that he always regretted not finishing school, but just goes to show that it is the desire to learn that makes you smart - not that piece of paper on your wall.

I will miss him terribly. Even though NBC was the channel my tv was set to when I first turned it on the morning of 9/11 and saw the towers, I immediately turned to ABC, hoping that Jennings would be on because I just needed to hear his voice - and there he was, and it felt like he never left during that time.

He always seemed to intelligent and classy, and still had a sense of humor. I loved the piece he did with The Daily Show where Jon Stewart played the fanboy who shadowed him all day, and there was one funny scene where they were both sitting there making fun of Brokaw's book.

[lpatrice]

Interesting that he was a high school dropout but maintained a lifelong love of learning and was probably smarter than most people with multiple degrees.

That is remarkable. Nowadays you have to have a degree to sit behind that desk, no matter how unworldly and stupid you may be.

[Deleted]

Interesting that he was a high school dropout

He helped prove that books can only teach you so much.

I watched him as a child, and I continued to watch him now with my family as we would eat dinner and listen to the world news. Every night I would hope there would be some mention of how he was doing, but there wasn't. I feel for the people that have to change the artwork for the ABC network. No longer will it say "World News Tonight with Peter Jennings". Reality bites hard sometimes. How will we deal with our next disaster without him?? Sad. Goodnight Peter.

Off/Topic: I imagine the wheels are turning at ABC to announce his permanent 'replacement'. Dear Gawd, not Charlie, Please, not Charlie. He needs to be retired to pasture along with Barbara. IMO.
Personally, I'm a big fan of Bill Weir of GMA weekend edition.

[lpatrice]

Anderson Cooper would make a good replacement for Peter Jennings. "World News Tonight with Anderson Cooper." That would make me happy, although I'm sure it will not hapen.

[Oxynia]

In my past life as a journalist before I got into advertising, I looked up to Peter Jennings as a model of professionalism and decorum, yet human enough to remain approachable. He had it all, and was a remarkable anchor. I will miss him very much.

Anderson Cooper would definitely get my vote as a replacement, he has many of the same qualities that made Peter Jennings stand out. There are too few people in broadcast news with any amount of gravitas (the Katie Courics of the airwaves just bring the curve way down) and Anderson is definitely one of the good guys. Hopefully he'll get the chance to prove it on a bigger stage soon.

[shawnalanne]

lpatrice said:

Yes it's sad that Peter Jennings has died. But nobody forced him to smoke, and by now everyone knows how unhealthy smoking is. I am sure Jennings had a rich full life and appreciated every minute of it.

I take it you've never tried to quite smoking. I've had several people in my family die of lung cancer, and my mom and an aunt have emphsyma. They both desperatly want to quite smoking and have tried several times. When they started smoking, like when Peter J started smoking, they didn't have the same information available about the risks.

My mother actually cries herself to sleep many nights because she can't quit smoking. She's not weak, but, tobacco is a hell of a drug.

[Deleted]

Peter Jennings, will be miss.
I miss him, the day he announce he had lung cancer.
I can't watch ABC evening news since he left.
Knowone can replace him.

[Deleted]

shawnalanne said:

lpatrice said:

When they started smoking, like when Peter J started smoking, they didn't have the same information available about the risks.

My mother actually cries herself to sleep many nights because she can't quit smoking. She's not weak, but, tobacco is a hell of a drug.

I'm sorry your mom is ill, back then smoking was accepted, people did not think it was a drug b/c they did not have the information we have today. PJ quit smoking until 9/11 I'm sure alot of people in this world started smoking after 9/11.

[swanflake]

I was fortunate to be watching ABC at 11:00 last night, and I got to see a little retrospective about his life. It was really beautiful to watch.

[firstaid]

My family will miss him too. RIP Peter.
They broke the news of his dead to me like someone in the family had passed away. Then, they went into this whole discussion on how people's lives are short on this earth. It was weird because my parents don't usually act like that. Even though we alternate between NBC and ABC now, about 15 years ago, we would only watch ABC. Peter seemed to have all the characteristics that we expect to have in an anchor, a handsome, articulate person who is truly interested in the stories that he is reporting. I liked him because he would challenge people on their bull#$@^. I don't think we will ever find reporters who will do that anymore.